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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
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<v 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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li« 

|UA  c 

i-dei 

sous 
22X 

P^^iV* 

26X 

30X 

7 

n 

20X                             a4X                            28X                            32X 

B 

itails 
I  du 
lodifier 
r  una 
Image 


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University  of  Victoria 
McPherson  Library 

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filmage. 

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dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
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d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — •-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  fttre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaiire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


rrata 
:o 


pelure. 


3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

0 


i 


6 


0 


Ar- 


>^ 


<r 


^TM 


—ov— 

FRANK  D.  ROGERS. 


IS97 
THOUSAND  ISLANDS  PUBLISHING  CO., 
CLAYTON.   N.   Y. 


PlIBMSHED  BV 

FRANK  O.ROGERS 

CLAYTON,  N,  V. 


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FOLK-STORIES. 


FULLY  ILLUSTRATED 

FROM   DRAWINGS  BY 
ROBERT  H.  ROCERS,  UNION  '99. 


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To  the  memory  of 
EDWARD  C.  ROGERS, 
Whose  untimely  taking  off  by  the  very  elements 
he  so  much  loved  removes  a  brother  and  a 
critic  upon  whose  practical  knowl- 
edge of  practical  subjects  the 
author  was  wont  to  draw, 
This  work  is  affectionately  dedicated. 


m 


CONTENTS. 


Autobiography, 

Preface, 

Burial  of  Harry  Millikin, 
I'erry's  Victory,  (Old  Song)     - 
The  Dance  at  Johnny  Beaver's,     - 
A  Cannon  Shotted  With  Gold  Coin, 
The  Legend  of  Calumet  Island, 
Daniel  Millikin,  American,  - 
Wind  and  Weather  Permitting, 
Wars  and  Rumors  of  Wars, 
Up  the  St.  Lawrence,  ITOG,     - 
Down  the  St.  Lawrence,  1818, 
Captivity  of  Mrs.  Howe, 
A  Pioneer's  Hardships,     - 
Folk-Storit^s,  .        .         .         - 

Tliree  1  inks,      - 
A  Bit  of  Topography,     - 
The  French  Settlers,  - 
Two  Old-Fashioned  Bovs, 
The  Last  Haul, 


-  11 
14 

-  17 

-  23 
25 
31 

-  42 
54 

-  63 
71 

-  132 

-  138 
■    143 

154 
-     105 


203 


21G 
218 
22!) 
260 


COPYRIGHT, 

BY 

FRANK   D.  ROGERS. 


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AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 


TIk'  sponsor  for  this  little  voliiiiii'  has  loiiff  been  a  coii- 
trihiitor  to  the  leading-  pci'iodicals  alon^^  the  lines  of  roiimnee 
as  well  as  dei'p  thou«>hl.  lUit  his  eontrihutioiis  have  been  al- 
most iiivarial)ly  returned,  when  the  return  jtostafj^e  was  pre- 
paid, aeeompaniod  hy  a  printed  note  indieative  of  a  wliolesale 
business  in  declinations,  "on  the  grounds  that  our  eolunins 
are  not  adapted  to  its  publication,  Imt  as  early  as  a  meeting- 
of  the  directors  can  be  held  the  policy  of  our  magazine  will  be 
changed  to  meet  the  re(iuirenieiits  of  your  pi-oduction.  " 

('level',  but  positively  deceitful  managing  editors  !  Thus 
ever  has  budding  genius  been  st'lled  i)y  sordid  directors  Avhose 
interest  in  the  uplifting  of  humanity  is  conlined  to  the  office 
elevator. 

The  author  was  born  on  the  North  i'rairie  in  the  city  of 
Chicago.  True,  he  lirst  opened  liis  eyes  a  lunidred  miles 
westward  from  Lincoln  Park,  but  the  cor|toration  lines  have 
been  so  often  extended  that  it  is  believed  the  place  of  his  birth 
is  at  i)re,sent  within  the  city  limits.  lie  had  barely  attained 
the  age  of  live  years  than  immediately  the  civil  war  broke  out 
with  nil  its  atti'iulant  carnage.     Kven  rd  that  tender  age  ho 


12 


AirToniOOUAl'HY, 


was  (letcrmined  to  enlist  in  hi.s  country's  causo,  and  in  fact 
was  enrolled  by  a  recruitinf;  otticer.  but  was  recalled  by  j  aren- 
tal  restrictions.  At  six  be  was  a  successful  pilot  of  runaway 
slaves  on  the  I'nderground  Railway,  much  to  the  discomfiture 
of  the  larfi;est  slave-holders,  who  had  i)Ut  a  price  on  his  head. 
At  the  age  of  ten  years  be  removed  to  New  York  state  bring- 
ing with  him  his  parents,  whom  he  succeeded  in  giving  a 
good  common  school  echication  the  following  sunnner.  At 
fourteen  he  was  yet  undecided  whether  to  i)ractice  medicine, 
be  a  blacksmith,  join  a  circus,  i>r  run  for  congress.  IIaj)ly  the 
la.st  rash  choice  was  averted  by  his  choosing  a  mercantile  ca- 
reer, which  he  abandoned  after  l>reaking  the  linn  by  which  he 
was  employed  in  a  little  less  than  si.v  months.  lie  then 
adopted  journalism,  Ixtught  a  newspaper  which,  however,  an- 
other sold,  but  not  until  he  ha<l  outdon(!  Dr.  'I\;nii;'r's  fast  by 
eleven  days,  not  exactly  as  an  exMci'inient  but  rather  as  a  mat- 
ter of  necessity  to  which  many  editors  uncomjtlainingly  sub- 
mit, the  while  writing  menus  for  each  day  of  the  week.  Later 
he  went  on  the  road,  but  iinding  expenses  greater  than  the  com- 
bined sales  and  collections,  he  concluded  to  develop  new  tields, 
and  so  took  up  life  insurance.  With  his  usu;;l  a])tue.ss  for 
the  new  and  noVL'l,  be  succeede  I  in  writing  one  risk,  extra 
hazardous,  uj)on  himself  and  never  caught  another.  Then  he 
started  a  magazine  which  a  subscriber  stoiiped  becau.se  he  was 
appointed  receiver.  Then  and  not  till  then  did  this  great 
government  of  jxditicians,  by  the  lawyers,  and  for  the  spoils, 
demand  of  our  hero  his  immediate  and  undivided  attention  at 
Washington.  Thither  he  went  to  bolster  uj)  a  frail  and  tottei'- 
ing  dynasty,  lie  had  no  sooner  thrown  himself  into  the 
breach  than  congress  convened  ami  laid  out  work  for  a  suc- 
ceeding congress  by  enacting  new  laws  to  be  unmade  at  the 
next  session.      After  deciphering  the  hieroglyjdiics  which  con- 


i 


AlTOniOfJRArHV. 


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grcssinen  aro  pleased  to  call  "  writiu',  "  correcting  their  had 
s[>ellinj^  and  worse  {jrainmar,  he  paralyzed  the  whole  govern- 
inental  fabric  hy  resigning.  "  Not  dead,  but  resigned,  "  they 
said  of  him,  and  he  was  sought  by  many  and  pointed  out  as 
(•ne  who  had  the  nerve  to  cut  loose  from  governmental  dugs 
and  face  a  blank  and  uncertain  future  upon  his  own  resources. 
After  having  been  connected  with  so  many  defunct  enter- 
pris.'s  it  was  but  natural  that  he  should  give  his  attention  to 
an  apprenticeship  with  an  undertaker,  one  who  laugh.s  when 
others  are  in  dead  earnest,  and  straightens  out  a  patient  after 
the  doctors  give  him  up. 


■  .fi.. 


PREFACE. 


The  niakiiifi;  of  a  Ixtok  is  ai.'('(»iii|)lislu'(l  in  many  ways. 
In  this  ])arti('ular  instance  the  last  chapter  was  written  tirst. 
Tlien  at  odd  times  other  cha|)t(Ms  were  written,  and  as  the 
work  progressed  it  received  something  like  systematic  atten- 
tion. The  suhject-  matter  is  one  in  which  the  writer  has  ever 
taken  a  delightful  intesest.  It  is  a  i)leasure  to  write  of  the 
triumphs  and  ivc  ord  the  trials  constantly  recurring  in  the  sim- 
ple atfairs  of  our  forefathers  wliose  heroic  endurance  made  and 
saved  our  nation.  They  it  was  who  made  po.ssihle  the  as- 
tounding progress  of  this  nineteenth  century. 

The  foundation  of  these  stories  of  every  day  heroism  is 
mainly  from  the  lii)s  of  a  paternal  grand-mother  whoso  simple 
though  impressive  language  kindled  an  atlmiration  for  a  jieo- 
ple  who.se  oftimes  most  heroic  acts  the  historian  has  j)assed  as 
unworthy  of  record  in  the  face  of  warlike  deeds.  That  tho 
privation  and  suti'ering,  toil  and  condMt  ])atiently  home  hy 
the  struggling  pioneers,  who  in  their  unj)retentious  ways  si- 
lently, and  yet  with  irresistihle  energy,  [)aved  the  way  to  pros- 
j)erity  for  successive  generations,  shall  he  the  more  keenly 
realized  may  he  after  all  th(>  ]»uriK)se  of  putting  a  dress  on  these 
Unpuhlished  Folk-Stories  of  the  Northern  Border 

To  make  the  stories  appear  continuous  the  same  charac- 
ters have  heen  employed,  and  that  Avith  a  care  to  their  indi- 
viduality in  the  incidents  narrated.  Inconsistencies  of  time 
will  he  discovered  hy  keen  readers  who,  noting  the  customs 
portrayed,  may  discover  the  generation  in  which  the  matei'ial 
facts  sprang  into  existence. 

Tho  world  is  ^s}\\  to  recognize  the  every -day  heroism,  on 


PHKIACi:. 


m 


the  lanu,  in  t!ic  kitclK'ii  or  at  tlic  desk.  Ncvortlielcss  it  is 
there,  iuul  often  the  saeriliees  ina<Ie  in  the  daily  (Hseharjje  of 
simple  duty  amounts  to  a  heroism  worthy  tlie  {leii  of  a  lian- 
eroft. 

lUirns  s;i\v  poetry  in  a  frij^htened  mouse  and  a  l)roken 
daisy.  A  limping-  hare  altraeted  liis  sympathetic  jten.  Shak- 
speare  writ.'s  of  sheep-shearing-  and  frreenwood  shades.  Scott, 
Myron  and  I'ope  turn  the  l>iillianey  of  their  genius  upon  the 
tiaily  all'airs  of  men  and  there  is  a  revehitiou  as  of  the  electric 
search-light.  The  Bible  itself  abounds  in  the  daily  heroism  of 
peoples  of  humble  calling.  Longfellow,  iiryant,  Whittier, 
I'inierson,  iiowell,  and  the  whole  galaxy  of  American  stars  are 
not  above  the  heroism  f»f  the  humble  walks  of  life.  Ian  Mae- 
larcn  has  immortalized  Logiealniond,  the  "  Drumtoehy  "  of 
his  ski'tches,  by  his  depictions  of  the  homely  Scotch  life  that 
existed  in  that  community  years  ago,  and  our  own  New  Eng- 
land life  has  latterly  ri'ceived  some  attention  on  that  line.  Not 
an  old  town  in  existence  l)Ut  would  furnish  abundant  material 
for  tilt  story  writer  after  the  historian,  .scorning  the  preciou.s 
dust  and  ore  rich  with  pleasing  memories,  has  departed  witli 
the  nuggets. 

Pictures  of  home  life  I  I'aintings  of  the  true-lien rted,  hon- 
est poor  I  (io  read  "  Heside  the  Uonny  Brier  Bush  :"  go  se<> 
and  hear  Deiiman  Thompson  in  "The  Old  Homestead, "' and 
isay  whether  it  is  author  and  actor,  or  the  |)ortrayal  of  the  un- 
sullied lives  of  a  true  people,  unknown  to  deceit  and  guile, 
that  reaches  the  heart  and  starts  the  tear  unbidden. 

l'\)lk-Stories  had  their  existence  in  fact.  They  are  not 
imagination  or  romance,  but  have  a  real  existence  in  the  un- 
rei'orded  annals  of  the  American  settlers  of  the  St.  l.,awrenee 
Hiver  and  Lake  Ontario  regions,  once  popularly  known  as  the 
Hhiek  Hiver  eountrv. 


Burial  of  Harry  Millikin. 

W'luMi  the  iippoiiitcd  liour  tor  the  fuiioral  arrived  tlic 
lu'ijilihors  and  friends  had  ,uatlu'iv<l  from  the  Nortli  and  South 
shores,  from  the  isUmds  and  points,  antl  from  tlie  settlement 
recently  founded  at  the  hoad  of  tiie  creek.  The  men  were 
grouped  ahout  the  little  clearing-  in  front  of  the  cahin,  and  in- 
side the  womenfolk  husied  themselves  at  nothing,  or  sat  list- 
lessly holding  their  hands  in  their  laps.  In  subdued  tones 
they  discussed  the  incidents  of  the  very  few  funerals  they  had 
attended  "hack  east,"  and  many  an  eye  moistened  and  many 
a  hrcath  .shorteneil  as  the  thought  of  friends  and  associations 
s?vcred  hy  death  and  separation  was  hrought  the  more  vividly 
to  mind  l>y  the  mournful  surroundings.  The  minister,  a  good 
old  Presbyterian  man,  arrived  on  horseback  a  full  hour  late, 
but  the  delay  caused  neither  surprise  nor  vexatious  comment, 
for  funerals  were  not  conducted  in  a  hurry  nor  with  military 
precision  in  those  days.  The  cabin  was  about  12  feet  l\v  IB 
inside,  with  front  and  rear  doors  opening  into  the  principal 
room  on  opposite  sides.  To  the  right  of  the  front  entrance 
stood  abed  in  a  recess,  its  white  valance  of  l>leached  cotton  at- 
tracting much  attention  fur  the  richnes;^  of  the  decoration.  Hlue 


I 


IS 


r.lUlAI.    or    lIAKIiY    MII.r.IKIN. 


caiiihi'if  curtains,  parted  in  the  ('enter  and  tied  l)aek  with  re<l 
hraid  eoni|)leto<l  the  arrangement,  except  a  linen  ctiverlid,  out 
of  which  tlie  hedpdsts  urew  to  th(>  ceilin,u',  and  endin.u  in  a 
cherry  knoh.  Next  Ix'vond  the  recess  was  a  narrow  stairway, 
and  beyond  that  and  takinji  up  the  corner  was  tlie  tiiorn  in 
the  side  of  less  favored  housewives,  a  rejiular  pantry  with 
shelves.  The  remainder  of  the  house  hi'low  was  at  ont'c  kitchen, 
diniufs  room  and  i)arlor,  the  lireplace  and  oven  formin}^  a  re- 
spectahle  aiuiex,  and  openinjj:  conveniently  into  the  side  to  the 
left. 

On  a  i)ine  tahU'  covered  with  an  luilinished  pieceof  linen 
lay  the  coftin,  a  crude  alfair  made  hy  old  Hank  Tuhbs,  the 
cooper.  It  was  fashioned  out  (tf  jiine  hoards,  rtith  hut  one  an- 
gle in  the  sides,  and  stained  a  dirty  l)lack.  'i'he  lid  was  cham- 
fered with  a  plane  so  as  to  leave  a  streak  of  ii;.tural  wood 
around  its  edo-e.  The  handles  oiui-  were  h]a(  k,  l»ut  having 
seen  loni«-  service  on  a  tool  chest  thev  could  lav  no  claim  to 
the  merit  of  newness.  A  few  shavings  had  heeii  strev.-n  on  the 
bottom,  by  requ-st,  a-;  even  that  sli  )\v  of  c jmfo-t  was  not  cus- 
tomary. The  rough  interior  was  not  ivlieved  I)y  so  much  as 
a  bit  of  luce  for  it  was  believed  thiit  such  "  lixin's"  wer(>  not 
only  a  waste  of  material  but  a  downright  sin  :;s  well.  The 
emaciated  form  of  JIarry  lay  Hid  ui)onhis  br.ck,  mouth  open, 
eyes  stai'ing  at  the  bare  joist  overhead,  and  h.sarms  and  hands 
laid  straight  down  his  sides  with  the  lingers  spread  in  a  con- 
vulsive grasp.  That  the  sight  was  one  that  would  teri'ify  the 
most  strong  can  not  be  denied,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  undertaker's  art  had  not  reached  the  ideal  at  that  day. 

The  minister  took  a  position  at  the  head  of  tlu-  colrin 
whence  ho  issued  orders  earnestly  and  with  the  sternness  of  a 
newly  appointed  brigadier-general.  The  few  relatives,  besides 
the  parents,  tiled  down  from  the  garret  and  were  seated  about 


^^ 


i 


lillMAI,    or    I1AI!I!Y    MIl.r.IKIN. 


19 


^^ 


the  ooHin  on  planks  supijortcd  hy  hlot-ks  of  wood.  A  rigid  oh- 
sci'Niincc  of  tlic  order  of  rclationsliip  was  maintained,  the 
eonsins  coiiiinj>'  in  last.  indeed  no  little  fr)niinotion  and  a 
slifi'lit  delay  was  eaiised  hy  a  tliii'd  cousin  who  unwittingly 
seated  herself  in  front  of  a  .seeond  eousin  of  her  father. 

The  gr)f)d  man  read  the  most  of  Deuteronomy,  then  turned 
hack  to  (lenesis  and  read  and  expounded  foi'  a  good  lialf  hour. 
'I'hen  he  started  oil'  on  a  long  prayer  which  was  of  the  most 
liheral  character,  geographically  speaking.  He  had  pa.s.sed 
Kurope,  Asia,  and  the  other  continents,  the  government  olH- 
cinls,  who  were  not  nearly  so  much  in  nee<l  of  it  as  in  later 
years,  and  was  excusing  the  failures  of  the  Whigs,  when  a 
clock,  half  as  tall  as  a  man,  set  up  a  most  frightful  striking. 
At  lir.st  it  .started  oil'  soherly  to  do  hu.sine.ss  in  the  regulation 
manner,  hut  no  sooner  had  it  discharged  tluit  duty  than  it  was 
.seized  with  a  frenzy  for  striking.  It  j)ouuded  olf  fifty  and  was 
merrily  hurrying  along  toward  the  hundred  mark  when  the 
good  dominie,  who  had  gradually  raised  his  voice  so  as  to  l)e 
heard  ahove  the  whir  and  (datter  of  the  j)resumptuous,  not  to 
say  irreligious  timepiece,  peremptorily  shouted  in  sheer  des- 
peration : 

"Stop  the  clock  !'■ 

And  then  appealingly — 

"  Will  some  one  stop  the  clock,  please".'" 

For  a  moment  no  movement  was  made  in  compliance. 
Then  Tim  l"'agan  sprang  up,  overturning  a  stool  in  his  haste, 
and  .seizing  the  clock  hy  weights,  hands  and  pendulum,  as  if 
to  choke  it  to  death.  rcstore<l  (|uiet  and  the  gocd  man  resume<l. 
After  till' man  at  the  clock  had  kept  his  grip  on  the  offender 
f(»r  what  seemed  to  him  almost  an  entire  day.  he  gradually  re- 
leased his  hold,  hacked  carefully  away  and  sat  down — on  the 
ll(M)r  where  his  stool  had  been.     The  fall   startled    evervhodv, 


20 


IMtJlAI.    or    IIAIIKY    MII.I.IKIN. 


1111(1  all  Itut  stopjicl  tlic  i»n'ii('luT.  The  shock  was  transmitted 
to  the  wall,  tlienci' to  tlic  clock,  which,  with  an  oiniiious  jii-owl 
lu'<>an  to  announce  the  tli<i,ht  <tftiiiie  on  the  twenty-tour  hour 
system,  and  iinished  the  liiindredth  stroke  just  as  the  exasper- 
ated Tim  wrenched  it  from  its  moorinji's  and  tlunj^  it  hijihout 
on  the  wood  ])ile. 

The  prayer  was  followed  hy  some  remarks,  after  which 
tlie  march  to  the  \o}X  schoolhouso  was  taken  up.  The  coffin  lid 
which  had  heeu  standing;  apiinst  the  wall,  a  horrid  silhouette 
aji;ainst  the  wliitewashed  sheathinu',  was  now  fastened  to  its 
place  hy  nails  driven  part  way  down  so  as  to  afi'ord  easy  with- 
drawal. Then  the  liurdeii  was  raised  to  the  shoulders  of  four 
as  badly  frightened  hoys  as  ever  saw  a  corpsi'  for  the  tirst  time, 
and  home  to  a  cart  to  which  was  attached  a  pair  of  oxen.  Slow- 
ly the  procession  wound  over  the  irregular  course  to  the  l(»g 
ItiiiMing  where  the  master  held  school  in  winter.  There  the 
coffin  was  deposited  upon  a  table  in  the  center  of  the  room,  the 
men  taking  one  side  and  the  women  the  other.  For  two  mor- 
tal hours  the  j)reaclier  dwelt  upon  the  moral  impossibility  of 
young  Ifarry's  attaining  a  home  with  the  blest,  and  empha- 
sized the  discourse  with  such  lurid  word-)»ictures  of  hissatanic 
majesty's  domain  that  the  two  Collins  boys  ran  out  screaming 
when  a  dog  crawled  from  an  obscure  corner.  They  believed 
the  evil  one  himself  had  come  to  verify  the  awful  utterances 
which  had  wrought  up  the  oiitiro  congregation.  Women  sobbed, 
children  cried  aloud,  and  men  controlled  their  feelings  by  grim 
efforts  that  were  more  painful  than  outright  expression. 

''  You  will  never  see  your  little  Harry  again,''  consolingly 
shouted  the  divine,  "  You  will  i)ut  away  his  boots,  his  cap,  his 
skates  and  his  sled — " 

The  father  groaned  alou<l. 

"  You  will  have  a  vacant  place  at  the  table,  and  you  will 


lUKIAI,    <>l'    IIAI{I{^     MIl.MKIN.  21 

ever  tliink  of  tlw  one  tliiit  is  «i(»ii('  wlicii  ymi  iissfiiihlc  fur  cacli 
meal  as  the  cold  \vm<l  ami  snow — " 

'llw  inolhcr  shiickcd. 

"  His  youiifi' coiupanioiis  will  miss  liiiii  iVoiii  the  Itoyish 
;ianH's,  from  skatin.i'-.  swimmin.ii'.  tisliinjf,  liuntinu — " 

Tho  doji'  lioulcd. 

'■  I  say  ajfaiii  you  will  never  see  him  in  yoiif  midst  for  he 
will  soon  he  laid  away,  food  for  worms  and  eventuate  in  dust.  " 

A  shudder  passed  ovei-  his  hearers,  hut  eml>oldone<l  hy 
his  success  the  heartless  man  sought  to  hind  u|>  their  achin.u 
wounds  l)y  a  peroration  on  the  doctrine  of  election. 

"  If  poor  little  Harry  is  amonji  the  elect  let  us  rejoice;  init 
if  he  is  not  then  an'  we  ajiain  admonished  of  the  awful  fate  in 
.store  for  most  all  (jf  us.  " 

"  Let  the  chorister  line  the  hymn  while  1  rest  my  throat 
hefore  proceeding-  to  that  "narrow  house,  a  hou.se  of  (day'  to 
hold  the  Ihial  of  these,  to  me,  impressive  services.  " 

A  choir  of  six  voices  with  flute  and  hass  viol  accompania- 
ment  rendered  Duke  Street  frotn  music  printed  with  •'  huck- 
wheat  notes."  The  con<>re,mation  was  commanded  to  "  view 
the  corpse.  "  This  done,  each  one  felt  in  duty  hound  to  re- 
mark, "  How  natteral  he  looks  !  "'  The  procession  was  re-formed 
and  slowly  wound  its  way  hack  to  the  Millikin  clearing  where 
a  grave  had  heen  made.  The  colHu  was  lowered  with  ropes 
which  sawed  and  rasped  jiainfully  as  they  were  withdrawn,  all 
hut  overturning  it,  .so  tenacious  was  the  clay  into  which  they 
were  imbeihled.  There  was  no  outside  box,  but  in  this  in- 
stance a  board  was  laid  on  the  cottin  to  afford  a  slight  jirotec- 
tiou  from  animals  of  the  burrowing  kind.  Then  each  of  the 
bearers  in  turn  seized  a  spade  and  threw  in  a  clod  of  earth 
which  fell  upon  the  cotHii  with  an  echoing  thump  that  nearly 
broke  the  remaining  heurti^trings  of  the  now  thgroughly  pros' 


22  I'.rjMAI.    nl-    IIAIiUY    MII.I.IKIN. 

trail'  paiciits.  'Plic  iiiouniors  niul  IVii-nds  sliook  liiinds  with 
thcpivaclicr,  and  as  tlicy  turned  away  iviuarkcd  in  a  distiiirt- 
ly  audihli'  aside,  "  How  well  the  elder  d<tne  !" 

That  worthy  was  heard  to  remark,  after  the  ordeul,  that 
he  felt  that  ho  had  "heeii  of  fjreat  coiufortto  them.  heeau«e  they 
we|)t  eopiously  throushoiit  the  whole  diseourse.  " 

(Irceii  grows  the  turf  ahove  Harry's  grave,  with  not  so 
much  as  a  sod  to  mark  his  resting  plaee.  The  held  has  hecn 
alternated  with  the  crops  of  the  farm,  lo,  these  many  years, 
and  my  informant,  an  old  man,  hent  and  gray,  to(  k  me  as 
near  the  spot  as  a  memory  faded  hy  the  caiis  of  sixty  and 
more  years  would  direct. 

"  It  was  about  here,  or  mayhap  a  lectle  furder  down,  but 
the  woods  are  gone  and  the  fields  so  big  1  may  be  far  astray 
from  the  spot.  I  was  the  next  youngest  of  the  bearers,  and  .«o 
long  was  I  afeered  to  come  anigh  the  spot  I  may  have  mis- 
calculated. " 

Miscalculated  !  Koader  it  may  not  be  so  long  until  ono 
may  search  in  vain  for  your  resting  place  and  mine. 


Perry's  Victory. 

Yo  sons  of  ('oluml)ia  givo  oar  to  my  story 

Who  foufrht  with  bravo  I'orry  whoro  cannons  flid  ronr; 
llis  valor  lias  jrninod  yon  an  immortal  fjlory, 

Which  will  last  till  Father  Time  shall  bo  no  more, 

Tho  tenth  of  Soptombor,  1  pray  lot's  rcmombor, 
As  lonj;  as  tho  j^lobo  on  it's  axis  rolls  round, 

Our  tars  an<l  nuirino  n{»on  Lake  Krie  wore  seen 

To  make  tho  proud  ilajr  of  (ireat  Britain  come  down 

The  van  of  our  fleet  the  bold  British  did  moot — 
Commanded  by  I'orry  the  Lawrence  bore  down. 

Our  guns  they  did  roar  with  such  terrific  j)owor 
The  savage  Britons  did  tremble  at  the  great  sound. 

The  Lawrence  sustained  a  most  terrible  tire; 

She  fought  throe  to  one  for  two  glasses  or  more, 
(ndlant  Perry,  undaunted,  firmly  stood  by  lier 

While  the  proud  foe  heavy  broadsides  did  pour. 

Her  masts  are  all  shattered,  her  rigging  all  tattered, 
Her  yards  and  her  booms  being  all  shot  away  ; 

JJut  few  loft  on  the  deck  to  manage  the  wreck, 
()ur  \mQ  on  bonrd  her  iw  longer  could  stav. 


24 


IM'.HHY  S    VK'TOHY. 


Savs  rcrry,  "TIidsc  villiiiiis,  tlicy  iiu'iin  tor  to  drown  us, 
I'uslion  my  Imivc  lioys.  you  m'vd  never  have  fear.  " 

'IMien  lie  otV  with  liis  coal  an.l  plu^i-^e*!  up  the  boat 
And  away  throu;j,h  tire  and  smoke  lie  (\'u\  steer. 

'IMu'  famous  Niauara,  now  proud  of  her  Terry. 

Disphiyed  all  her  haiiiiers  in  gallant  array, 
'rwenty-live  ^uns  on  her  decks  she  <lid  cari-y 

Wliieh  soon  put  an  end  to  this  l.loody  alfray. 

r.rave  Klliott.  whose  valor  must  now  he  reeounled, 
( )ii  hoard  tlie  Niaj;ara  he  well  played  his  pait. 

His  gallant  assistanee  to  Terry  allorded 

Well  placed  liim  the  second  on  Take  Trie's  eliart. 

Hurrah  for  our  lla}- !  (leiieral  Harrison,  too! 

Tor  Terry's  hold  tleet  loud  praised  hy  all  powers. 
Hurrah  for  his  message,  may  it  over  prove  true:  ^^ 

"  We  have  met  the  enemy — and  they  are  ours.  " 


V 


The  Dance  at  Johnny  Beaver's. 


"  My  iiMim',  hits  .loliii  I?ii]itist('  lUvvci-.  Aliin  I'uiii  otl' 
MoiitraliiiU  (111  rail",  iiK'.  Aliin  ciiiii  liiic  for  Iccsli  wid  yuus. 
(lot  for  iiic  <im!  job?  " 

Yes.  (olliiis  would  ^ivc  liiiii  a  liand-sliart'. 

••  What  dat  you  call  handsln-i'i'? "' 

It  was  fXplaiiu'd. 

"  Wi'll,  I  ff('t  mchho  nothi^^^  iiicbhc  four  tousaiid,  nii'. 
Ainu  hu'ky  iJivvfr.  Cum  on  ,uo  j)idl(>iu  seine  rat  oil"  for  niake 
^ood  cotch  (luitc  plain.  "  (Kasy.) 

lie  was  told  it  was  too  windy  to  east  out  the  nets. 

"  Yaas?  liiinel)y  she  blow  some  more.  What-a-matter 
now?  Me  no  'fraid  watter,  Ahm  eum  off  Moutrahall,  nie. 
Ahui  no  j)eesou|)  I'^reneher.  Ahm  trajtpe  vurry  gross  feesh  by 
Montrahall.  " 

"  My  faniljly  on  dock.  You  got  some  shanty  1  live  in 
for  while?  " 

One  end  of  the  cooper  shop  was  provided  for  him,  and  in 
the  Ibregoing  scraps  of  conversation  he  was  formally  installe(l 
factotum  on  the  Collins  lishing  grounds. 

Heaver  was  short,  broad-shouldered  and  heavy-chested, 
active,  and  had  a  happy  temperament.  His  cheek  bones  were 
high,  eyes  l)lack.  beard  thin  and  in  patches,  arms  short.     Cor- 


•2<) 


ii.\N(  I-:   A'l'  .luiiNNV   I!i;avi;i;  s. 


(luroys,  iiKK'CMsiiis.  ji  pcii  jiickrt.  m  vclvt  t  IccjUc  on  ciio  sido 
of  his  iK'iul,  Mild  !i  siisli  that  once  was  red,  ^nw  him  a  rather 
jaunty  appearance.  His  wife  was  a  fiiIld)l(HMU'<l  \vhite^nrl. 
superior  to  the  life  slie  must  lead  with  him.  She  'uul  mar- 
ried for  hetter  hut  eoiild  hardly  have  done  worse  had  >lie 
looked  heyoml  a  hare  living  and  the  rearinjidf  a  larj^e  family. 

I.a  l"'aiiiine  made  nnieh  of  .lohniiy  Heaver,  while  in  turn 
he  found  much  to  almost  reach  the  superlative  in  Montreal, 
the  city  to  which  he  likened  all  events,  all  nature  and  all  su- 
perstitious in  the  comparative  degree. 

IJeaver  dearly  loveil  music  and  dancing.  Hearing  a  fid- 
dle in  the  hands  of  a  lisherman  he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to 
give  a  l»all.  and  forthwith  set  ahout  inviting  all  whom  he  met 
to  come  to  his  dance.  A  pack-peddler,  a  lish-peddler,  who 
counted  out  tish  as  "  forty-si.\,  fifty-seven. "'  tiius  gaining  ten, 
and  (he  new  handsharcrs  were  alike  hidden  to  coiiu'  in  his 
([uaint  vocahulary  : 

"  Ahiu  goin'  mek  one  donee  on  my  house.  Yoiis  all 
cum.  "r won't  he  le  graiide  hal  masipie  like  1  mek  on  ^^)ll- 
trahall,  hut  all  mans  and  womans  round  cum  on.  1  tek  de 
lied  down,  turn  stove  "roun'  !  Den  yam|)ytampy,  yani|)y- 
tampy,  "  and  Johnny,  a  full  grown  man,  hiirsting  with  exuher- 
ancc,  improvises  a  partner  out  of  a  hroomstick,  and  executes 
the  French  four  with  iiior(>  vigor  than  grace. 

The  stove,  one  of  the  elevated  oven  pattern,  had  heeii 
"  turned  aroun<l,  "  and  heated  red.  At  the  farther  end  of  the 
shop  a  j)otash  kettle  was  filled  with  live  coals  and  set  upon 
Itricks.  The  remainder  of  the  scant  furniture  was  tossed  out 
doors  to  make  more  room. 

Johnny's  guests  hegan  to  arrive  early,  hut  many  that 
were  invited  remained  away.  The  host  was  in  no  wise  grieved 
jit  the  apparent  slight  for  the  rva.son   that   the   ahsenti'cs  werv 


Tin;  I  ii>i)i,i:u  was  skatkk  ()n  a  shavino  iiohsk. 


DANCK    AT    .loIINXY    IlKA  VKI!  S. 


fully  replaced  liy  tli(>  iiri'ival  oi'  an  e(|ual  nuiiilni'  who  came 
M'itliout  invitation.  Aiiionj>;  the  latter  wei'e  some  youn«>'  nieii 
who  came  Just  to  s(>e  the  fun,  hut  foriiTit  their  purpose  and 
joined  merrily  in  the  festive  dance. 

The  tiddler  was  seated  upon  a  shavin;;-horse,  and  that  in 
turn  was  i-aised  u]»on  a  c()U])le  of  fish  harrels.  Thi'ee  sets 
''formed  on"  and  after  alternately  .<awinj;>-  the  strinji's  and 
twistiuii' tlie  ])e,iis,  the  tiddler  settle(l  hack  and  jioured  hody, 
soul  and  arms  into  "The  Lancers,"  the  while  thuni])in.ii-  with 
the  sole  of  liis  ri^ht  ho(»t  to  the  time  of  his  music. 

'■  .line  liai.ds  and  circle  I '' 

Men  in  heavy  hoots,  rt'd  shirts,  and  coatless,  nnide  the 
plank  tloor  tremhle  at  the  woi'd,  and  the  human  rini!,'  made  a 
complete  turn  thi'ce  hars  r.head  of  the  music,  and  had  time  to 
hreathe  hefore  the  next  move  was  promittod. 

"  I'lrst  four  for'ard  and  hack — ahimaud-di'-left  I  " 
Jvitiht  hands  elevated  and  with  left  arm  akimho,  palm  out- 
ward, the  liiiure  is  cut  in  a  lively  dance — no  walking-  allowed 
— ami  the  couples  return  to  place  once    niori'   to  catch   hreatli 
as  the  tardy  music  vigorously  brings  up  the  rear. 

"  IJalanci'  pard-ners — urand  riyht  and  left  I" 

A  n'cneral  ui'ahhinu'  of  hands,  ri^ht  hand,  left  hand,  any- 
hody's  hand,  and  retui'ii  to  ])lace  with  amjih^  time  for  tho.so 
who  have  lost  ])artners  to  make  the  proper  exchanjit'of  posi- 
tions. 'I'wo  changes  and  a  "  hrt'akdown  "  is  t!ie  I'ule  of  the  llooi-, 
and  ])antin<j,',  laujihing,  chatterinu',  the  three  sets  vacate  the 
door  which  is  (piickly  taken  hy  those  who  did  not  ••<i-et  into" 
tlie  lirst  sets. 

Johnny  is  called  '•  Mr.  Ueaver  "  so  freipiently  as  to  cau>e 
him  to  imagine  himself  a  mendxn  of  parliament.  lie  l)eams 
ri,i!;ht  ami  left  upon  his  guests,  and  after  much  coaxing  con- 
sents to  do  a  clog  which  makes  him  indeed  a  hero.  This  done 


2s 


i>.\N(i-;   AT  .iniiNNV    i;i;.\vi:i!  s 


lie  aiiiuniiiccs  su|>|n'i'  ill  the  i'ollnwiii^-  spcccli  dclivcrnl  tVdin 
the  sliaviiig-liorst'  ti'iiijionirily  vaoati'd  for  tlic  purpose  l»y  llie 
strinji  ordu'stra  ol'  (iiic  pirco  : 

'•  Ni)\v,  ymi'U  nifk  vcr'  small  racket  while  Aliiuuoiir  liax 
yous  fur  sui>]»er.  Tain'  ver'  iiiee  l)Ut  hits  de  lies"  what  we 
(li'ln't  met  ami  de  siuoko  stur<>i'()ii  is  de  bess  meat  dat  swims 
except  the  crane  I  never  tass  it.  Ahm  smoke  it  mysell' where 
J  learn  donu  Montraliall  Heat  'cm  all  u]v  and  I  ver'  mooch 
tank  yous  for  ten  cent  (juite  plain.      Hats  hall.  " 

'•  IJunii' jour,  "  he  added  hy  way  of  a  jioliti'  linish  to  his 
remarks,  and  jumping'  to  the  tloor  he  walked  on  his  hands  to 
the  end  of  the  room  and  came  to  his  feet  hy  turninii'  a  liand- 
sprinji'.  The  clappinji'  of  hands  and  remarks  of  approval 
tilled  the  simj)le-mintled  half-hreed  with  joy  unspeak;d»le.  and 
Avliile  pre})arations  were  made  for  lunch  he  ^avean  exhihition 
successively  of  the  snake,  ti'i'cen  corn  and  canoe  <huu-es  much 
to  the  disii'ust  of  his  white  wife  who  had  never  seen  him  make 
such  an  exhihition  of  sava<;i'  customs.  ller  protests  made 
him  the  merrier,  and  the  encoui'an-ement  ^iven  him  hy  his 
ji'uests  led  him  to  another  praid-:.  SeizinjLi'  ii  hatchet  he  per- 
formed the  scalp  dance  over  tlu^  tiddler  and  raised  that  woi'- 
thy's  scalp  a  do/en  limes,  endinu,'  the  performance  with  a 
whoop  and  throwing  the  hatchet  with  sucii  skill  that  it  stuck 
fast  in  a  ]>ine  post  forniiuii,-  u  part  of  the  frame.  Some  of  his 
UUests  wi're  sliyhtly  alai'nied  at  this  feature  of  the  entei'tain- 
nieut,  l)Ut  it  was  forn'otten  when  the  music  auain  started. 

.\fter  luncii  the  ilancin^  heyan  in  earnest.  ''Opera  Keel,  " 
"  .Moneyniusk.  "  and  "  M(d)onald's  Keel,  ""  were  followed  l>y 
an  eiyhtdiand  reel. 

Truthful  c(»mpliments  were  exchanu'ed,  the  nuisic  pro- 
nounced the  Itesl,  and  tlu>  lunch  a  feast,  on  this  felicitous  occa- 
sion,    The  only  waltzer.s  iu   tho  party  wevo   Nancy  Ahirccaii 


DANCl':    AT    .lOIINNV     I'.IIA  V  KK  S.  Z-' 

jiiid  .)ol)y  Collins  wlio  liiid  lu'cn  swccthcjirls  since  iiilinicy.  it 
was  (loclaml.  They  had  tlic  ilnor  i<.  llicnisclvcs  t'oi'  the  tliii'd 
tinuMvlicu  a  ,uriilV  voice  called  IVoiu  outsi<le  the  partly  oi>eii 
door : 

"  Xan  !  " 

Xaiicv  tunii'd  al»oiit  and  lace(l  her  father  wlio  had  hnrrieil 
across  lots  when  his  danehter  was  missed.  ('iiokin,u-  with 
v.vj^v  lio  hoarsely  urowled  : 

"Xan,  yon  drop  that  cur  and  come  st  r.ii.uht  lionie  I "" 

Tlu;  ('xcitenient  was  (."vidont,  hut  sur[iresse;i.  Thi'  tiddler 
rested,  and  Xancy  plead  : 

'•Oil,  now,  pa!  Come  in  and  wait/,  just  once  witii  me. 
Do  come  I  -lust  once!"  And  the  saucy  ,uirl  walt/.e(l  alone  to 
the  door  and  lieM  out  a  hand  invitingly  to  the  man  whom  no 
other,  man  or  woman,  <lared  cross  when  he  was  in  anucr. 

''  Don't  ho  a  fool.  Nan,  "  he  said,  half  pleadingly,  "  come 
away  and  don't  have  nothiidc  to  say  to  a  ri'lative  of  old  Hank 
Collins.  You  know  who  cut  my  seine,  Xamiy,  'twere  old 
Hank  and  I  never  forgets.  " 

'•  ( )]i  !  dam  the  seine,  pa,  if  1  must  say  it.  ^'o^I  will  hold  a 
g-rudii'e  the  lonjiost  of  any  man  !  Come  in  now,  daddy,  and 
teach  the  hoys  to  wait/,.     ( 'ome  I 

The  old  linn  was  tamed  as  usual  when  h(>  shook  his  mani' 
at  his  favorite  (diild,  and  Xancy  letl  him  to  the  mid-lie  of 
the  iloov  where  they  elicited  ticneral  admiration  in  the  <j,i'ace- 
ful  wait/  to  an  old  tune  whi(di  the  fiddler  had  amended  hy 
foi'ovttin^  the  last  strain  and  improvisin.u'  oue  of  his  own 
creation. 

Xancy  with  her  usual  tact  proposed  to  her  lather  to  .ii,-o 
homo  and  the  old  yoldicr  and  sailor,  now  lisherman,  de[)artcd 


30 


DANCl':    AT    JOHNNY     I'.IOAVKU 


with  his  hands  five  fn.m  tlio  blood   of  .lohy   roUins.  contrary 
to  his  threat  made  at  the  outset. 

.lust  at  dayH«ilit  tlie  eandk's  were  snull'cd  out  and  a  live- 
ly breakdown  was  daneed  as  a  iinishiiif--  touch  to  the  nioht's 
enjoyment.  As  they  (lejuirtcd,  one  after  anotiier  in  the  <lawn, 
.lohnny  shook  hands  heartily  and  w;:s  heard  to   exclaim  more 

than  once ; 

"Ahm  ver'  mooch  tanks  for  yous  I  Cum  on  my  beej-' 
house  down  Montrahall  nex'  summer,  we  .lonce  tree  day,  tree 
ni,uht  and  have  mans  to  blow  de  horn  and  mek  de  bi.u'  lid"  ,uo 
'bum,  bum,'  an  Ahm  makeyous  ac([uaint'  de  mayor,  and  de 
counsel,  and  tie  halderman,  an<l  all  de  recches'  mans  in  de 
worr.      Yaas,   on   .Montrahall.       Don"  y(.u  foruet.      Alim   no 

peesou]),  me  I " 

There  be  tiiose  livin,u-  who  swear  by  J  leaven,  ai'ter  havinjr 
been  entertained  by  ])riiKH'sand  potentates,  they  nevt'r  realized 
so  nmeh  unsullied  joy  at  a  l)all,  tliou.uh  led  by  the  (lUeen,  as 
thev  ditl  at  .lohnnv  leaver's  dance,  "  years  a_uo.  " 


^ 


A  Cannon  Shotted  With  Gold  Coin. 


At  some  period  (lurinii'  tlic  French  ami  I'Jimlisli  war  a  de- 
tacliniont  of  the  I'ornier  in  bateaux  propdhMl  hy  oar  and  sail. 
I'an  into  La  i''ainine,  pai'tly  lor  shelter  an<l  pai'tly  to  lose  itself 
from  an  iinrelentinu'  enemy.  Sn  closely  wei'e  they  pursued  hy 
the  I"]n<ilisli  in  Durham  hoats  that  capture  seemed  iiu'vitahle, 
and  a  lla^'  of  truce  was  run  up.  While  neiiotiations  wi're  pend- 
ing'the  connnander  of  the  i'^rench  fleet  hethouiiht  himself  of 
the  nuuH'i'ous  hays  of  n'old  coin  stowetl  away  in  the  llaj^ship, 
and  which  would  all  too  soon  fall  into  the  possession  of  the 
victors  uidess  secrete(l   immediately. 

lie  counseled  with  his  ofHcers  with  the  result  that  a  can- 
non was  unlimhercd  and  the  coin  poured  into  its  rafiacious 
mouth,  .\fter  the  pri'cious  charge  hail  Keen  rammi'd  home 
the  mouth  of  thei'annon  was  scv'urely  plu,L;',iied  and  it  was  then 
thrown  overltoard. 

In  the  excitement  of  the  moment  no  ranti'es  were  taken, 
and  nothing  hut  the  depth  of  the  water  was  known  for  a  cer- 
tainty. I'iight  fathoms  deep,  tradition  hath  it,  and  somewhere 
hetween  the  Masswood  trei'  and  (Scpiaw  Island,  .somewliere  be- 
tween  the  (iap  an<l    W'hitelish,  and,  it   might  he   well   said, 


;?-2 


A    CANNON    SIIo'l'Ti:!)    WI'I'II    (iol.D    COIN. 


suiiK'wlicrc  lictwi'cii  ciirlli  nml    sl<y.  so   indi'liiiitc  wcfc  the  tra- 
ditional coiijc'ctiircs. 

At  any  I'atc  tlic  clciiicnts  intcrfcri'd  in  the  Krcnclinian's 
Itclialt"  and  at'tci' lousing  his  anchors  the  Mn;ilishnian  was  l)lo\vn 
Ix'Vond  the  |)ossiiiiiity  of  victory  jnst  as  terms  liad  l)ccn  ncjio- 
liatcd.  With  the  tii'st  sliit't  of  wind  the  Frencii  tleet  saileil 
leadiny-  tiicir  late  adversaries  Ky  a  full  day  with  a  fair  wind. 

!.on«r  years  after,  a  piratical  appearing  craft  cruised  the 
land-locked  shores  of  La  I'^aniinc  for  some  weeks.  Not  one  of 
the  crew  could  speak  Knulish.  hut  enoujih  of  their  lanuiiau'c 
was  understood  to  convey  the  idea  with  certainty  that  they 
were  seai'chin^'  for  treasure. 

Inuneiliately  the  trailition  related  aliovc  was  revived  and 
many  s[)cculations  were  ha<l  concerning'  it.  Hank  Collins  and 
Jim  Lane — old  Jim.  thought,  talked  and  dreamed  of  the  old 
smooth  hore  and  its  piecious  charge. 

"  'Sp(»se  they  i\vv\\  the  charge  before  I'amminj;'  the  coin 
down.  "  (|Uerie<l  Lane. 

■■  I'rohahly  they  ilid  and  prohahly  they  didn't.  They 
mount  as  well  a  tired  lici'  ai'ter  she  was  loaded,  considerin' 
how  scatterin'  the  article  is  nowailays,  "  |)hilosophically  an- 
swci'cil  Collins. 

Lane  had  the  lie.-t  |iead,  and  he  had  studied  the  i)r(J)a1)il- 
ities  and  the  possiltilitics  attendant  upon  these  iiici<lents.  an<l 
liually  persuaded  Collins  to  ^o  out  upon  the  water  antl  guess 
at  the  prohahle  coiu'se  a  storm-driven  Meet  with  no  knowledge 
of  the  waters  they  W(  re  sailing  would  naturally  take  in  the 
si'arch  for  anchorage  and  shelter. 

"'Pile  wind  mostly  hlows  sou'west  in  these  parts,  and  that 
is  most   likelv  the  wav  it  was   hlowin'   when   the   Frenchman 


was   scud<lin'    for   casiei-   weathei',  "'    re 


isone( 


1    L 


me   witli    Jns 


th 


1' 


lartner.      "  Now  ohsarve  the  range  of  the   iJasswood   ayin  tlu 


A    CANNON    SIIOT'IKD    WITH    (lol.h    coIN.  :>•'> 

j>i„t — s\vin<i'  lior  dil'  n  (•(luplc  ycrl<s — now  keep  the  I'iiit  clciir 
(.!' the  tree  iiliouMlic  width  of  vcr  liniid — steady — iiiid  mind 
that  tall  laiiiarack  |iluinl>  ahead.  Now  we"re  dead  in  the  wake 
of  the  ilect  ailriviii" — " 

••  Which  l)oat  had  the  coin,  "'  hroke  in  Collins. 

"Dan.u'  it.  eiiny  on  "cui,  no  matter  which.  Just  siipposin' 
— voiir  tree  lias  slid  into  the  I'int  a.uin — open  out  and  ,uin  yei' 
attention  to  the  ranges.  .lust  sup|iosin'  the  hull  licet  was 
l)Owlin'  aloii.u',  wind  hlowiu"  a  ,ij,a,L;,u-ei-.  where  now  would  any 
sauc  skippei'  pint  t'ur".''     Tell  ]\w  that  Hank  Collins.  " 

•'  Well,  if  he  ware  nattcrally  a  sailor  man  he'd  luiji'  the 
shore  same's  we're  a<loin',  and  when  the  soundin's  showeil  t'a- 
vorahle  1  'low  he'd  jam  her  nose  well  up  t(nvard  the  long  hay 
iiport.  " 

"  Kufi'sakly  I  "  shouted  Lane  with  as  much  emphasis  as 
thoufi'li  he  had  found  the  precise  resting  place  of  the  French 
treasure. 

The  wind  was  increasing!;  and  Lane  shii)])cd  a  i)air  of 
mismated  oars,  and  after  weltin.ii'  the  thole  jiins,  caught  stroke 
and  kept  his  eyes  steadily  on  the  Uasswood  Uvv  and  the 
'•  Pint." 

'i'he  men  lahored  at  the  oars  in  silence,  for  some  time,  and 
a.s  tlio  wind  was  with  them  they  did  not  much  mind  the  in- 
creasinjj;  waves  as  they  tliR'W  the  he;ivy  old  seine  boat  rij^ht 
and  left.  It  was  not  lorifi'  before  the  men  realized  that  they 
were  in  a  ,aale,  and  one  had  to  hail  a  share  of  the  time  to  keep 
the  boat  managealjli'. 

"  I  say,  Hank,  ''  sui;s;ested  l.ane.  "  lt>ts  make  nj)  into  Lonji" 
r>ay  and  wait  for  this  s([UaH  to  blow  over.  Uesides,  avc  \\\\\ 
see  about  where  the  Frenchman  dropiied  his  mud-hooks  in 
seventeen  liundred  and  what-was-it  ? '" 

"  (iad,  zounds  !     Man,  but  you're  lonjji;  headed  !  The  very 


:U 


A    <'ANV(>N    SlIoTTKl)    WITH    (iOI.I»    ((UN, 


thill-; — left  ]i!iii(l  licsl — the  vciv  tliiii.u  l'"rciK'liy  must  liavc 
iloiK — Icfi  liaiid — \i' \\v  knew  luiicii  jilxiiit  (lint  kind  ol'  sailtu- 
iii,U' — Ici't  liiiiid — wliicli  was  iiioslly  like  Scdtdi  iiaviuatidU — 
main  strrnutli  and  iii'iuirancc.  .lini,  main  strciiiith  and  ijiiioi- 
aiic(.'. 

'•Say,  Mister  ('(dlin^,  it  strikes  me  there  is  a  (h'al  nt'iiiain 
strength  in  this  iiere  iiavi.uatidii.  See  I  We're  drift  in"  out  of 
tile  moiitii  of  tlie  hay  and  will  do  smiie  tall  pulliii"  it'  we  ddii't 
make  leeway  that  will  hlow  us  clean  liy  the  I'int  to  say  no- 
think  ol'iicttinu'  mi  into  the  hay.   ' 

Collins  made  no  reply.  He  pulliMl  at  the  heavy  oars 
with  hiseyes  shut,  and  opeiieil  tlieiii  when  swin^injj,  hack  for 
a  new  hold.  The  wind  hail  heeii  steadily  drawing  to  west- 
ward, thus  fairly  dis|iutiii,ii'  the  rii^lit  of  way  with  the  treasure 
hunters,  '['he  two  men  saw  the  point  slip  past  them  and  real- 
ized that  it  was  useless  to  attem|>t  to  .ti'el  under  the  lee  of  the 
friendly  shore  not  a  half  mile  tlistaiit. 

Lane  was  a  reasoiier  and  so  far  had  led  the  "  expedition 
as  he  facetiously  termed  it.     Collins  was  an    imitator  and  not 
so   thouiihtful.      An    idea    occurred    to    him    and    he  called  to 
Lane,  pourin,:;  the  words  into  his  hroad  hack    ami    far  too  lee- 
ward : 

"  Tlic  Freucliman  anchored,  you  say?" 

"  So  I've  heeii  told.  " 

'•  In  course — he  had  to.  i-et's  heave  (dd  Ueii  (a  pet  liaiiio 
for  his  anchor)  over  and  see  if  he'll  hold  us,  and  if  he  does  \\v 
can  take  ohsarvations.  pick  up  the  lost  ranges  and  niehhe  lish 
up  the  old  cannon — '  fools  for  luck.  "  they  say.  "" 

"All  ri,ii,ht,  "  Iieartily  res[)ond(Ml  Lane.  "  hut  lirst  heiid 
on  that  war])in,u'  hue.  " 

"Show!  'i'her's  fifty  feet  of  line  without  it,  and  four 
fathom's  all  you'll  get  here.  '" 


^^%IX 


J"i- &. -"-iS  ■■'/\ 


'  THE    OARSMAN    WAS   HEAHLESS 


A    CANVON    SKOTTKI)    WITH    COI.D    coIV,  3;") 

'•  llcttcr  l.ciid    (111    the   .,tli,.f,  II;iiil<,  you  will  want  l(.t<  ..I' 
Ik'Hi].  Iujuiii|.  ill  ill  this  sea.  let  iiic  tell  yon.  "" 

Tlir  i'(.|n's  were  iiiiilcil  wi I li  a  ••  lislicniia ii's  Lciid,  "  and 
'111'  iiiiclii)!'  was  |M.isci|  iHi  the  uuiiwalc,  lluki's|.(iiiitiii-- ii|.war:I 
ami  downward,  and  alter  a  sccMiid  look  lo  -cc  ijial  tlicro|K' 
was  all  clear,  i(  was  dropi.e.l  ovei'.  Ilie  l.oat  liltiny'  on  Leiiiy  r<- 
lieveil  of  (lie  weiHht. 

•' 'I'lieiv,  ■■  said  Collins,  inlying  oiit  tlie  rope.  "I  eileiilate 
tliel  tliar's  al.oiu  the  way  them  riimiways  <li.|  it_!,,,ti:,iii  IMI 
"Ut?— wh..n  they  tried  to  .lo.lue  the  Kll-iish— holtom— ;iiid 
lost  their " 

IJotli  men  stareil.  each  at  the  other. 

The  knot  just  a|.|.eared  almvethe  water  iind  <!i(,we(i— 

"  Ki.iiht  fathom  I  ■" 

"  Ih'ury,  ■■  s.iid  !,aiie  solemnly,  ••  we're  within  a  hundrdl 
'•■'I  "''  "'<•  <"inno!i  I  (let  ranees,  ,|, lick,  wr'u'  dra-einji' old 
'•''"  '"'""'  't'-^  l.rovideiiee.  liaiik,  nolhin-  sh(,rt  'iif  |a'ovi- 
'l«'nee.  and  I  promise  now  I'm  -oiiT  to  le:id  a  hetler  life.  " 

"  ^'•''  '""•  -'iiii.  I  feel  niiiihty  tivmidy  ahoiil  this  spot. 
I'i'l  s  .mve  it  up.  Xo  use  anyway,  a  humlivd  feetora  hundred 
mild's  all  the  same  to  me  and  you.     ( 'oine  I 

"'l\'II  the  truth  and  shame  the   devil.  Naiik.  I  don't  feel 

tlnit  tli<'  water  hereahout  is  just  as  solid  and  sure  to  llo.at  us  as 

It  mi,uht  he.     So  uin  us  ;,  hand  nnd  we'll  -vt  the  lines  in,  j'.nl 

tin's  mueh  I'm  williii'  to  chaiist.      We'll  h'ave  .a  hu.y  to  mark 

the  raii,ues  and  try  it  a  couple  of  months  later  in  cam  weather.  '" 

(icttiny-  theaiiclK.r  in.  the  men  headed  tlieii'  l.oat    towai'd 

T-a  Famine  and   as  they   pulled   away    hefoiv   the   wind    each 

watched  the  speck  of  a  l.U(.y.  which  .sivnied,  like  the  rainhow. 

to  have  a  p(.t  of  ^„ld  at  its  end.      Utile  wassaid  hetweeii  them 

t'-vcepton   laiidin---   to  exact  a  |)romi.se  from   each  to  make  no 

revelations,  Ihouuh  all  they  had  to  reveal  was   that   an    eitiht- 


80 


A    CANNON    Sll()TTi:i>    WITH    COM)    (OIN. 


fatlioin  sduudiiin- liiul  hceii  iniidc  !it  a  sj.ot  wlicrc  tlicy  woultl 
stiiket'vcrvtliiiifi-  they  luul  lU'Vcr  iouiid  to  cxia'cd  four.  Thiit 
ni}>lit  two  HsliiTiiifii  drt'.iiiu'd  of  inhulous  wealth  which,  fast 
as  recovered   tVoin  a  rustv   old   eaiiiion,   would    flv   hack  to  its 


lornier  restiu< 


place, 


l^arly  next  uiornint!,'  the  misty  tijiures  of  two  men  could 
have  Iteeii  dimly  seen  in  a  heavy  fo^-  a|)|troachiiit;-  each  other 


on  a  W( 


■W 


Worn  j)atli. 


hey  were  the  treasure   liuiiters  of  ve> 


terday.  and  were  met  hy  chance.  Morning-  salutations  were 
not  in  oi'der  in  this  New  Kn<>land  descended,  cold  nei_nhhor- 
hood.  That  formality  was  a  deference  strictly  resei'ved  fur 
stranp'i's  who  ha])i>encd  in  their  midst.  Hoth  men  looked  a 
littU'  surprised,  h"wevei'.  and  Collins  broke  the  silence  of  the 
wood  by  asking-  : 


W 
T 


ler  ye  gom 
voui'  house. 


\\' 


■r  YOU  headin'  for 


']'"  see  you.  "  frankly  answered  Collins. 
I  drt'amed — "     'I'hey  began  in  one  voic(> 
Well,  ti'll  vours.  "  suggested  Lane. 


I  di 


I'eamed  your  hiamed  old  cannon,  he  was  gettnig 
interested,  now,  but  he  diil  not  wish  to  show  too  nuich  excite- 
ment tner  a  di'cam,  "  1  dreamed  your  blamed  old  cannon  lay 
eight  fathom  deep  in  a  siid<-hole  eight  fathom    across,  and  on 


tl 


le  other  side  of  the  hole  from  our  buov,  eiuht  fathom- 


"  My  dream  exactly!"  interruptt'd   Lane.  wIkj  had    been 
paling  as  Collins  progressed. 

"  We  bettei'  not  wait  'till  the  summer  cams   come  on,  had 


we  .Innmv 


N 


o.  su'-re 


Lets  be  off'  now  I     'IMie  fo<i"ll  lift  before  wo 


can  get  ovi'r  there,  and  besides,  if  it  don't  none  will  suspect 
what  we  ai'e  dragging  for.  "  and  as  Lane  linished  lie  cuta 
small  fork   from  a   plum   live  and   taking  the  extremities  in 


A    CANNON    SIIOTTKI)    WITH    (iol.D  COIN.  .>l 

fitlRT  liaiid,  the  point  of  union  upward,  he  proj.oscd  to  take  it 
alon<i-  as  he  hail  located  hundreds  of  wells  l»y  (lo\vsin^^  hesides 
niakin.u- wonderful  use  of  the  same  as  a  divinin.^-  rod  when 
jtrospecting  for  buried  treasure  at  i-'reiich  Creek — a  stoiy  that 
niav  he  narrated  sometime  in"  l.i:(ii:Ni)Ai!Y  Stoimks  ok  tmk 
Tiioi  SAND  Islands.  " 

The  two  men  stole  silently  down-shore  to  tlieir  hoat.  and 
a  moment  later  were  lost  in  the  dense  fo}>:  of  a  cold  sprinj^'s 
morning-.  An  hour's  labor  at  the  oars  brinj-injr  them  near  the 
spot  of  yesterday's  iind.  they  beoan  to  penetrate  the  Urj;  in 
search  of  the  buoy. 

••  1  cauji'ht  a  jilimpse  of  the  IJasswood  and  I  dunno  but 
we're  too  fur  to  luard.  "■  su<i>;i'sted  l.ane. 

"  Lor"  amiu-hty  !  Uack  her  I  Hacker  !  A  sloop  to  star- 
board I"'  roaivd  Collins.      Then  F.ane  took  commaml. 

'•  Pull  I  Ui.uht  hand,  right — he'll  run  us  down  shor'  as 
preachin"  !  The  loonatick's  a  follerin'  us  at  every  move! 
Steadv,  now  Dhmt  vour  oars  readv  to  j)ull  or  push  for  life  the 
minit  he  gets  nigh  to  us.  " 

The  men  sat  rigid  as  statues,  their  oars  pointing  straight 
out  from  the  boat,  ready  to  back  water  or  jiidl  away  as  the 
exigencies  of  the  api)roaching  crisis  might  decree.  The  fog 
lifted  a  little  and  both  men  drojtped  their  oars  in  astonishment 
as  the  big,  looming  sloop  suddeidy  colla})siil  into  the  Imoy 
they  had  |iut  out  with  their  own  hands  to  mark  the  anchor- 
age. 

"  What  in  natnr  I  "  began  Collins,  "  was  that  arc  phantom 
some  o'  vour  spookery  with  the  wati'r  witch  of  a  plum  sprout.  " 

"  It's  a  good  omen,  Henry,  i  mind  some  such  e.\peri(  iico 
before.  Now.  say  !  Not  a  word  of  talk  after  we  get  within 
eight  fathom  of  the  buoy.  Mind,  n.)W.  So  nmch  as  a  word 
would  spoil  all.      Why,  I  helped  «lig  up  Captain    Kidd's  treas- 


cox    slI()TTi:i)   WITH    OOLI)    (OIN*. 


nvv  chest  on  I'i.n's  l''(i(it  Isiiiiid.  an«l  stood  with  one  toot  on  the 
clicst  ini(i  a  luhhcr  sai(K  '(lininu'  tlic  si>a(h'.  '  That  chi'st  sliot 
out  from  under  me  au''  I  dropped  down  three  feet  into  a  hole 
where  it  hdd.  •  ( -imme  the  spadi'.  '  said  he.  and  a  million  in 
n-old  cdiu  went  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  with  a  ihssh  and 
then' ware  a  smell  of  hrimslone  to  ehokt' ye.      N(tw    we'll   lake 

soundin's.  "" 

iMiur  fathoms  I  Five,  six — ei,u,ht  1  Seven,  live,  foui',  and 
Lane  motione(|  to  ColUns  to  fall  away.  More  soundin.us  were 
rapidly  taken,  and  in  a  short  time  the  hounds  of  tlie  pot-liole 
were  fairlv  loeate(l.  They  disco\ered  that  it  di'opped  oil'  ]»n- 
cipitously  four  fathoms,  was  ei;^ht  fathoms  wide,  as  many  in 
(h'pth.  and  the  leail  showeil  hard  hottom.  They  then  set  about 
a  systematic  dra,L;-.Liin,u'  of  andior  and  grapnel  in  the  hojie.  if 
ixissihle.  of  <j,cttin,i;  Ibul  of  the  l"'rt'nch  j;un  and  l)rin,nin<i,-  it, 
cliar^v  and  all.  to  the  surface.      Time  and    a.Liain    they  rowed 


)Ver  the  ciiarmeil  spot  only 


to  lind  their  labor  vain 


Collins  pointed    siiiiulieantly  to  the   plum  sprout.      Lane 
1  it  bv  th<'  ends,  held  it  out    from   his  bodv, 


nervous! V  uraspei 


palms  upward,  and  .^I'ipped  the  br.inches  whiidi   converged  in 


an 


his  f 


u^lv  knot  at 


11   li'Vcl  with    his  e\-e 


l>ers| 


)iration   tell  from 


ice 


as  the  witch  p' 


Milted   astern. 


Collins  backeil  water. 

Down,  ilown  turned  tiie  idum  sprout,  wriii.uin^-  the  bark 
as  the  boat  moved  slowly  ovei' the  "  hole."  Then  it  turned  up- 
ward a<  they  iia.-^ed  beyond  its  rim.  'Idle  experiment  was 
ti'ied  bv  a|pproac!iin,u-  the  point  of  stroii.u'est  attraction  from 
dill'erent  direcli(pns  until  it  was  well  located,  'idieii  the  an- 
chor and  urajinel  were  aiiain  brouuht  into  st'i'vice  and  the 
course  drauued  over  and  a^aiii. 

Collins"  line  brought  up  solid  and  he  o|iened  his  lips  (o 
speak,  but  a  warning   look    from    Lane  leminded   him  of  the 


A    CANNON    SII(»TTi;i>    Willi    Cdl.D    (lUN. 


«) 


lii' 


cainoin,  and  tlicu  l)v  si.;>;i!!i 


cousiMjueiioe.  .hisl  tlicii  Lane's  line  fonlcd  on  sonictliii 
('({nally  solid.  'I'lic  linos  were  straincil  taut  and  the  hoat 
lirou^ht  to  a  position  directly  over  the  object.  Attain  tlio]ilnin 
sjU'out  was  trieil,  and  tiiey  wei'e  not  surprised  when  it  turned 
straight  do\viiwar(l  and  sto|t)»e(l  at  a  jxTpetidicuiar. 

Collins  drew  hreath  as  if  ahout  to  speak,  hut  Lane  was 
watelnnii- him  and  cut  oil"  the  words  fatal  to  success  hefore 
they  were  uttered. 

The  treasure-seekers  were  hy  this  time  nearly  heside  tluMii- 
selvos  with  e.xcitt'inent  in  which  tear  ])layeil  not  a  small  ])art. 
They  liove  tlie  sid(>  of  the  hoal  "down  until  the  water  almost 
d  then  hv  s'l.'ppina'  over  to  the  opposite  side  rocke(l 
it.  i\w  while  takiii,u' in  the  slack  of  the  nijies  as  tluy  pive  to 
the  strain.  Ai'tei'  ri'peateil  efl'orts  tiie  oliject  upon  whicli  the 
anchors  had  fouled  yielded,  and  was  hrouiiht  slowly  and  la- 
boriously to  the  surface,  its  advance  heralded  by  bubbles  of 
gas. 

Covered  with  rust,  mud  and  black  ooZ(>  the  {•'renchman's 
jiun  lay  at  the  sui'l'aee.  'i'he  ]iri/e  was  at  tlu'ir  tinticrs'  (>nds. 
Tremblingly  they  pulled  on  the  ropes  which  had  fallen  into 
notches  alreaily  worn  in  the  wale.  S(»  interested  were  tlu'V 
that  they  did  not  hear  the  approach  of  another  boatman. 
Clank,  clank  ! 

'riie  clatter  and  stpieak  of  a    ]iair   of  heavy   oars  cauj;ht 
their  attention,  and  they  faced  about  as  one  man. 

A  lar.i:e  boat.  ]»ropelled  by  oars,  was  approachinu'.  the  sin- 
gle occupant  pullin^u'  a  lonu'.  steady  sti'oke  in  time  with  the 
louti'.  lazy  swells  that  seemed  at  each  rise  ready  to  uive  up  the 
etl'ort  to  li'o  farther.  \vi  tiny  ceased  not.  but  I'an  ahead  of 
the  lon,L!;  sweej)  of  the  oars  as  if  ieasing'  the  (H'cupant  to  I'ace, 
Clank,  clank  I 


40 


A   CANNON    SIIOTTi:i>    WITH    (iOLI)    COIN. 


Slindc  of  ( 'liaroii  !  The  Wood  of  the  fislu'rmon  stood  still, 
and  tlioir  amazoniciit  was  unboundt'd. 

The  oarsman  was  headless  I 

Straiji'ht  toward  the  treasure  lie  pointed  his  boat,  sij>htless 
as  he  was,  and  his  severed  neck  showinff  a  ghastly  wound  as 
he  bent  to  his  oars.  Steadily  he  forjie<l  ahead  so  close  now 
that  the  ripple  around  the  stem  came  to  their  ears.  The  boat 
was  l)attere(l  and  scarred,  built  upon  strange  lines,  and  a  hole 
had  been  broken  into  her  bow  as  though  she  had  been  raked 
by  a  six-pounder.  Long  weeds  trailed  in  her  wake  which  aj)- 
I)eared  as  a  stream  of  tire,  and  mosses  flourished  on  her  run- 
boards. 

All  this  and  more  the  treasure-seekers  saw  in  less  time 
than  isre(|uire<l  to  relate  it.  Nearer  anti  })lainer,  now,  sounded 
the  chilling 

('lank,  chads  ! 

And  the  men  were  aroused  by  the  instinct  of  .self-preser- 
vation. Kach  seized  an  oar  in  one  hand,  with  the  other 
holding  to  the  rope  by  which  the  cannon  was  suspended.  They 
were  now  thoroughly  alarmed  at  this  uncanny  visitor  who  oc- 
casionally turiu'd  to  I'ight  ;in<l  left  in  his  seat  as  if  looking  over 
his  lieadless  shoulders  to  take  his  bearings,  or  perhai)S  more 
properly,  dead  reckonings. 

"  Now  !  "  shoutr<l  Lane. 
"  Strike  I  "  echoecl  Collins. 

fatal  words  !  The  charm  was  broken,  tor  no  sooner  had 
th.e  men  spoken  as  with  one  voice  than 

Boom  !     Ha-r-r-gn  I 

'I'he  cannon  was  lired  at  the  first  vocal  sound  and  Iturst 
into  a  thousand  fragments  while  its  ]>reci<)us  charge!  was  scat- 
ti'red  over  the  waste  of  waters  toward  the  rising  sun.     Both 


A    CANNON    SIIOTTIM)    WITH    (iULD    COIN. 


41 


men  dropped  in    the   boat    and    tor  a  minnte    ncitlu'r   conld 


^pe 


ak. 


When  they  liad  sutticiently  rccovc'rcd  tlicir  senses  to  rise, 
the  apparatiou  liad  gone  ai)[)arently  as  swil'tly  as  the  ti'easurt> 
whieh  they  liad  just  as  good  as  secured.  Tlie  ro])es  l)urne(l  ott' 
the  nioineut  the  disehai'jie  occurred  and  down  went  tlie  anchors 
if  in(U'ed  they  were  not  l)h)wn  to  atoms. 

Silently,  ruefully,  sadly  the  lishei'nien  ship[)ed  their  oars 
and  pulled  away  for  home  as  stoutly  as  their  shattered  nerves 
and  di.sap})ointed  hopes  would  permit.  lOach  desired  to  ])ut 
the  blame  of  failui'e  uj)on  the  other,  and  an  ari>ument  as  to 
who  spoke  first  and  tliu<^  dispelled  the  charm,  ended  in  a  sol- 
emn agreement  never  to  reveal  a  word.  lUit  each  told  his 
wife,  "she"'  told  her  sister,  and  so  the  connnunity  was  soon 
reveling  in  the  doubtful  story.  Year  after  yi'ar  the  exact  spot 
is  shown  the  summer  guest,  an<l  to  the  incredulous  ])roof  is 
forthcoming  when  with  lead  and  line  the  outlines  of  the  rim 
to  the  pot-hole  are  located  by  taking  soundings,  and  then  there 
is  the  Uasswood  tree,  the  Point  and  the  Hay  to  confirm  the 
rest  of  the  storv. 


The  Legend  of  Calumet  Island. 


'riicri'  is  aliuiHlaiict'  of  (nidcncc  which  ,ti<)(.'s  to  jn'ovi-  tliat 
liad  tlie  scene  of  ovi'uts  in  Loniil'ellow's  inimortal  Iliawatlia 
l)een  located  at  the 'IMiousand  Islands,  tlie  Manatoana,  or  "  har- 
den of  the  (Ireat  S[)irit,"'  of  the  li'o(|Uois  an<l  Al<:on(|uins,  the 
jxH-ni  would  have  heen  true  to  the  lejicndary  orijiin  of  Hiawa- 
tha. Ivead  with  that  idea  in  mind,  one  will  he  sui'i)rised  at 
the  many  strikinjj;  jtassa.ui-s  which  a]i|dy  to  the  St.  Lawrence 
with  more  force  than  to  the  F^ake  Supeiiov  re«iion  in  which 
the  i)oet  has  depicted  the  |trinci[)al  events  oi'  the  leucnd. 

in  ISl:').  Ossaliinta  and  l)(>hatkaloiis.  two  ()non<li;jia 
chiefs  related  the  le.u'end  of  the  ti'od  of  hshin^'  and  rivers  to  Mr. 
Clark  who  cai'efuUy  wrote  out  the  story  and  tiled  it  in  the 
archives  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  Jlo  thus  trans- 
lates the  narration  of  the  two  chiefs  : 

Hundreds  of  years  afio.  'I'a-oun-ya-wat-ha,  the  Deity  who 
)»resides  over  tisherics  and  streams,  came  down  from  hisdwell- 
in<>-  place  in  the  clouds  to  visit  the  inhal)itants  of  the  earth. 
He  had  l)i'<'U  dejiuted  by  the  (Jreat  and  (lood  Spirit,  Ha-wa- 
ne-u,  to  visit  the  streams  and  clear  the  channels  from  all  oh- 
structions,  to  seek  out  the  <iood  thinf>s  of  the  country  throuf>li 
which  he  intended  to  pass,  that  they  mi<iht  ])e  mor(>  licnerally 
disseminated  among  all  the  good  people  of  the  earth — e.spe- 


A    I.KdKM)    OK    CAMMICT    IS1,ANI>. 


4:^ 


cinlly  t(»  point  out  to  tlioiu  the  most  rxci'llcnt  tisliinK  ^roviiids, 
iiiid  to  bestow  11)1011  tliciii  otlicr  jic('c])tnl»l('  jiit'ts.  Al)out  this 
time,  two  yoiiiiji-  iiicii  of  tlic  OiioiHJiiga  Niitioii  were  listlessly 
^iiziiig  over  tlie  ciiliii  blue  waters  of  the  Lake  of  a  Tliousand 
Jsles.  During-  their  reverie  they  espied,  as  tliey  thoufiht,  far 
ill  the  distaiiee,  a  sinule  wliite  speei<,  Ijeaiitifully  daiiciny  over 
the  hrifi'lit  blue  waters,  and  whih'  they  wateiied  the  objeet 
with  the  most  intense  anxiety,  it  seemed  to  inerease  in  niafjni- 
tiide,  and  moved  as  if  ai»i)roaehin,u-  the  place  where  they  were 
eoiieealed,  most  anxiously  awaiting  the  event  of  the  visitation 
of  so  sin}>ular  an  objeet — for  at  this  time  no  eanoos  had  ever 
made  their  appearance  in  the  (lirection  from  whence  this  was 
a[)i>roaeliiii<>-.  As  the  object  neared  the  shore,  it  jiroved  in 
semltlance  to  l)e  a  venerable  looking  man,  calmly  seated  in  a 
canoe  of  pure  white,  very  curiously  constructed,  and  much 
more  ingeniously  wrought  than  those  in  use  among  the  tribes 
of  the  country.  Like  a  cygnet  upon  the  wide  blue  sea,  so  sat 
the  canoe  of  To-oun-ya-wat-ha.  u|)on  the  Lake  of  a  'riiousand 
isles. 

As  a  fraii  l)ranch  drifts  towards  the  ru.'^hing  cataract,  so 
cour.sed  the  white  canoe  ov(>r  the  rippling  waters,  propelled  by 
the  strong  arm  of  the  god  of  the  river.  Deep  thought  sat  on 
tlie  brow  of  the  gray  headed  marinei' ;  ix'iietration  marked  his 
eye,  and  deej)  dark  mystery  pervadi-d  his  countenance.  With 
a  singh'  oar  he  sili-ntly  paddled  his  light  trimmed  bark  along 
the  shore,  as  if  seeking  a  commodious  haven  of  rest.  lie  .^oon 
turned  the  }>row  of  his  fragiU'  vi'ssel  into  the  estuary  of  the 
"double  river,  "  and  made  fast  to  the  western  shore.  Jle  nia- 
jestieallv  a.scended  the  steep  l)ank.  nor  stopped  till  he  had 
gained  the  loftiest  summit  of  the  western  hill.  Then  silently 
gazing  around  as  if  to  examine  the  country,  he  became  en- 
chanted with  the   view,  and   <lrawing  his  statelv   form  to  its 


44 


A     l,K<iKM)    oi'    CALIMi;'!'    IS1.ANI». 


utmost  lieif^lit,  Im  I'XcliiiiiKMl  in  iuct'iits  of  the  wildest   ciitliu- 
siasni,  Osli-wali-kcc,  Osli-Wiili-kci'. 

He   approached    the    two   youiij'-    hunters,  recounts    I)r. 
Ilougli,  gained  their  conlicU'Uce,  and  having  (h'awn  fronitlieni 
a  knowk'dye  of  the  (Htticulties  un(h'r  which   tliev  laliored,  dis- 
closed to  them  tiic  spirituality  of  his  character,  and  the  oljject 
of  Ills  mission.      He  invited  them  to  attend  him  in  his  passage 
U|)  tlie  river,  and    tlu'V   \vitnesse<l   many    things  which  coidd 
only  be  accounted  for  as   mirachs.  oi-  he   <lescrihed  Init  in  tho 
wonders  of  Indian   mythol(gv.      He    ascended    to    the  lesser 
lakes,  placed  all  things  in    jiroper  order  for  the   comfort  and 
sustenance  of  man,  taught   them    how  to   cultivate  corn  and 
beans,  which  had  not  before  l>een   giown   liy  thein,  made  the 
fishing  ground  free.  an<l  o|)ened  to  all  the  uinnterru])tcd  pur- 
suit of  game.     Jle  distribut 'd   among  mankind   the  fruits  of 
the  earth,  and  i-enioved  all   obstructions   from   the  navigable 
streams.       Heing   pleased   with    his   success,   he  assumed    the 
character  and  habits  of  a  man,  and   ]'eceivc(l   the   name  Hi-a- 
wat-lia,  (signifying  "  very  wise  man,"'  )and  fixed  his  residence 
on  the  beautiful  shores  of  Cross  Lake.    After  a  time,  the  coun- 
try became   alarmed  by  a  hostile  invasion,  when   he  calle<l  a 
council  of  all  tlie  tribes  from  the  east  and    the   wt'st,  and  in  a 
long  harangue   urged   upon   them  the   importance  of  uniting 
them.selves  in  a  league  for  their  common  deten.se  and  mutual 
hai)piness.     They  deliberated   u])on  his  advice,  and   the  next 
day  adoi)ted  and  ratiiied  tlu'  league  of  union  which  he  recom- 
mended.       Jli-a-wat-ba,    having    brought    this   council    to   a 
close,  and  as  the  assend)led  tribi's  were   about  to  separate,  on 
(heir  return  home,  arose  in  a   dignilied   manner,  and  thus  ad- 
dressed them  : 

"  Friends  and  J>rothers  : — 1  bav(Miow  hillille(lmy  ini.ssiou 
upon  earth  ;  1  have  done  everything  which  can  be  done  tit 


A     I.KdIOM)    OK    CAI.IMKT    ISLAND. 


|»r('st'Mt  for  tlic  u,<to(l  of  tliis  lircat  people.  .\jic,  iiilii'mity  jind 
(listre.^.s,  sit  lieavily  U|toii  me.  Duriiiji'  my  sojourn  !mioiif>'  you 
I  liiive  removed  all  olistruetioiis  from  your  sticiims.  Canoes 
caii  now  ])ass  evei'ywlieic.  I  have  <iiven  you  y'ood  iisliin^' 
waters  and  good  hunting  grounds,  I  liave  taught  you  how  to 
eultivate  corn  and  l)eans,  and  have  U'arned  you  tlie  art  of 
making  (•al)ins.  Ahiiiy  hlessings  I  liave  liherally  he.stowed 
upon  you. 

Lastly,  I  have  now  assistecl    ycai    to  form   an   everlasting 
league  and  covenant  of  strength  and    frien<lship,  for  your  f 
ture  safety  and   protection.      If  you   pi'i'scrve   it    without  tl 


u- 


10 


ulmission  ot  other  people,  y(»u  will   always 


he  t 


ree,  i 


and  mijihtv.     If  other  nations  are  admitted  to  vuur 


th 


ill 


lev  will  sow  jealousies  among  you,  and  you    wi 


1)0 


lum 

counc 

conu 


■ous 
■ils, 
on- 


slaved,  few  and  feehle.  Kemomlier  these  words:  tlioy  aro  the 
last  you  will  hear  from  the  lips  of  Ili-a-wat-lia.  Listen,  my 
friends,  the  (iront-Master-of-Iirt'ath  calls  me  to  go.  I  have 
j>ationtly  waih'd  his  summons.      I  am  ready  :  Farewell.  '" 

As  the  wi.^^e  man  closed  his  speech,  there  hurst  ui)on  the 
ears  of  the  asseinhled  multitude,  the  cheerful  sounds  of  the 
most  delightful  singing  voices.  The  whole  sky  seemed  tillo(l 
with  tlu>  sweetest  nu'lody  of  celestial  music;  and  lloaven's 
high  arch  echoed  and  iv-echoed  the  touching  strains,  till  the 
whole  vast  assemhly  was  completely  ahsorhed  in  rapturous 
ecstasy.  Amidst  the  general  confusion  which  now  prevailed, 
and  while  all  eyes  wi're  turned  towards  the  etherial  regions, 
Ili-a-wat-ha  was  s(>en  majestically  st-ated  in  his  canoe,  graccr 
fully  rising  higher  and  higher  ahove  their  heads  through  the 
air.  until  he  hocanie  entirely  lost  from  the  view  of  the  assein- 
hled throng,  who  witnes.xed  his  wonderful  ascent  in  mute  and 
admiring  astf)iiishment — while  the  fascinating  music  grad- 
Uiiliy  bocamo  juurc  plaintive  and  low,  and  luially  swcotly  ox- 


40 


A   i,i:<ii;\i>  or  cai.imkt  islam*. 


pirc'd  in  tlii'  softest    tones  upon    their  ears,   as  the  wise  mail 


II 


la-Wi 


it-lia,  tlie  jrod-likc  Ta-omi-ya-wat-ha,  i-etired  IVoin  tlieir 


sight,  as  inysteriously  as  he  first  appeared  from  The  Lake  of  a 
Thousand  Isles,  and,  eonelinU's  I)r.  nou<:ii,  (inietly  entered 
the  ref^ions  inhabited  only  hy  the  favorites  of  the  i^reat  and 
fi'ood  spirit  Ila-wah-ne-u. 

Tiiat  tlie  reader  may  thi'  hetter  luiderstand  the  h'^end  of 
wliieh  these  paj^es  treat,  a  portion  of  Loniifeliow's  "  Sonj>-  of 
Jliawatha  "  is  here  re])rodueed  ; 

TIIK    I'KACK    I'll'K. 

On  the  .\rountains  of  tlie  l'rairi(. 
On  the  yreat  Ri-d  ripe-stone  (Quarry, 
(Jitelie  Maiiito,  the  mighty, 
He  the  Master  of  Life,  deseendiny". 


On  tl 


le  red  era^'s  of  the  (|Uarry 


Stood  ereet,  and  ealled  the  nations. 
Called  the  trihes  of  men  toji'ether. 

From  his  footprints*  Howi'd  a  river,  j 
Leaj)ed  into  the  light  of  morning, 
O'er  the  preei])iee  plunging  downward 
({learned  like  Jshhoodah,  the  eoniel. 
And  the  sj»irit,  stooping  earthward, 
With  his  (inger  on  the  meadow 
Traced  a  winding  pathway  for  it. 
Saying  to  it,  '•  Hun  in  this  way  !  " 

From  the  rod  stone  of  the  (juarry 
With  his  hand  he  hroke  a  fragment, 
Moulded  it  into  a  i)ij)e-liead. 
Shaped  and  fashioned  it  with  liguri's  ; 


tl 


rrom  the  margin  ot  tlie  iivei 
Took  a  long  reed  for  a  pipe-stei 


n, 


♦  The  Oreat  Lakes.    +  The  St.  Lawrence. 


A   i,i:(ii;M)  or  cammkt  island. 

With  its  (liirk  ^ixwu  Iciivcs  u|i()n  it  ; 
Mllcd  tlic  |»i|>c  with  liark  of  wilhiw, 
With  th«'  luirk  of  the  red  willow: 
Hroathcd  upon  the  lu'ijihhoi'iu^'  loicst, 
^hl(k'  its  ^rcat  l)oujihs  ('halV  to^cllu'i-, 
Till  '\n  llaino  they  hurst  and  kindled  ; 
AikI  erect  upon  the  iiiouiitaiiis, 
(iitelie  >hiiiito,  the  niijility, 
Smoked  tlie  ('Ai,rMKT.  tiik  I'KACK-rii'K 
As  a  signal  to  the  nations. 

And  tlie  smoke  rose  sh)\vly,  slowly, 
'Phroujih  the  trancfuil  air  of  morning', 
I'^'irst  a  single  line  of  darkness, 
Then  a  denst>r,  hhier  vajjor. 
Then  a  snow-white  cloud  unfoldinfi, 
Like  the  tree-tops  of  the  forest, 
ICver  risinf;,  risin}>',  risinj>-. 
Till  it  touched  the  top  of  heaven. 
Till  it  hroke  against  the  heaven. 
And  rolled  outward  all  around  it. 

From  the  \'ale  of  Tawasentha, 
I'Vom  the  N'alley  of  Wyoming, 
From  the  (Jroves  of  Tuscaloosa, 
From  the  fai"-otf  Rocky  Mountains, 
From  the  Northern  laki^s  and  rivers 
All  the  trilies  Ix^held  the  signal. 
Saw  the  distant  sinokc  ascending. 
The  i'ukwana  of  the  I'eace-Pipe. 

And  the  Prophets  of  the  nations 
Said  :  "  Behold  it,  the  Pukwana  ! 
By  this  signal  from  afar  off, 
}}e»tiing  likQ  a  wautl  of  willow, 


47 


•IS 


A   i,r.<ii;Ni>  •• 


I'    (  AI.'MI'T    ISI,AM>. 


Wiiviuu  like  a  Imin 


I  tlml  lurkoii? 


(litclii-  Mnnito.  the  mi^lity. 
Calls  the  trilx's  of  nu'ii  tojivtlicr, 


Calls  the  wi 


irridi's  to  Ills  coiim'il 


l)o\vii 


the  rivers,  o'er  the  i)nnn(' 


Caiuc  the  warriors  o 
Caiuc  tlu'  Ih'lawarcs  an 


t  the  llatioH^ 


Caiiic 


il  Mohawks, 
the  Choctaws  and  < 'ainaiiclics, 


Came  llio  Shoslioncs  a 


11(1  r.lacki'cct. 


Canu"  the  Pawnees  and  Onialias, 
the  .Nhmdans  and  Daeotah 


Came 


Came  the  llnroiis  and  Ojihways. 
All  the  warriors  drawn  to<iether 
1  of  tlu)  IVaee-lMi.e. 
,f  the  Prairie, 


r,y  the  sijiiia 

'!'(.  the  Monntains  « 


t  Red  Pii)e-stone  (Quarry 


'To  the  grea 

An<l  they  stood  there  on  the  meadow 
With  their  weai»ons  and  thi-ir  war-gear, 
I'aintod  like  the  leaves  of  Autumn, 
Painted  like  the  sky  of  uu)rninK, 
Wildly  glaring  at  eaeh  other  ; 
In  their  faees  stern  deiianee. 
In  their  hearts  the  feuds  of  ages. 
The  hereditary  hatred. 


The  anee 


stral  thirst  of  vengeancn- 


(litehe  Manito,  the  mighty 
The  ereator  of  the  nations. 


Looked  upon 


them  with  eompassion, 


With  i)aterual  love  an 


d  pity 


rath  and  wranghn 


Looked  ui)OU  their  w 

P>ut  as  ([uam 

lUrt  as  feuds  and  tights  of  children 


Is  among  chi 


Idreu, 


A   i,i:(ii:ni>  (ii-  cammki'  isi.anii. 


4i) 


Over  tlii'lii  lie  sti'clclicd   Ilis  ri<ilit  ilillltl, 
To  siiImIui'  tlicir  stuMidni  iinlnrcs, 
Toiillny  tlicii'  tliifst  and  rcv<'r. 
Ily  tlic  slmiinw  dl'  Ilis  ri«ilil  liiiml  : 
Spake  {<>  tliciii  with  voice  iiiiiji'stic 
As  the  souiid  of  llir-oir  waters. 
I'^alliiiji'  iiitu  d('('|»  a!)ysses. 
W'anniiiLi'.  ehidini;.  spake  in  this  w\sv  :  — 

"  ()  my  children  I  my  |iooi'  cliildren  ! 
Listen  to 


Word 


if  wisdom 


Listen  to  tile  words  of  warninii. 
l'"inm  the  lips  of  the  (i-'cat  Spirit, 
I'^rom  the  Master  of  l-ile.  who  made  you 
have  j^ixi'n  you  lands  to  htnit  in, 
'iven  von  streams  to  lisli  in. 


I  I 
I  I 


la  vc 


1  1) 


lave.uiven  you  hear  and  nison, 
I  liave  jiiiven  you  roe  and  i'einde(M'. 
1  liavejiiven  you  l)rant  an<l  heaver. 
Filled  the  marshes  full  of  wild-fowl, 
Filled  till'  rivers  full  of  lishes  ; 
Why  then  are  you  not  (•(tntentecl? 
Why  then  will  you  hunt  each  other? 

■•  1  am  weary  of  your  (puu'rels. 
Weary  of  your  wars  and  iiloodshed. 
Weary  of  y(Hir  prayers  for  venjicance, 
Of  your  wraufi'linus  ami  dissensions; 
All  youi'  strcnu'th  is  in  your  uuion. 
All  your  danger  is  in  discord  : 
'riiei'cfore  hi'  at  peaci'  IieiiceforwanL 
And  as  brothers  livi'  toficthcr. 

"  1  will  send  a  prophet  to  you, 
A  Delivei'i'r  of  tlie  nations, 


50 


A    I.KdKNI)    Ol'    CAl.rMKT    ISLAND. 


lo  shilll  I'll 


idc  vou  iind  shall  U'iu-li  yon, 
til 


Who  ^h:\]\  toil  and  suticr  with  yoii 
If  you  listen  to  his  counsels, 
You  will  niulti[)ly  ;ni(l  prosper  ; 
]f  his  warnings. pass  unheeded. 
You  will  fade  away  and  iierish  ! 

"  Mathe  now  in  the  stream  hefore  you, 
Wash  the  wav-])aint  from  your  faces, 
Wash  the  blood-stains  from  your  finj>ers, 
Bury  your  war-eluhs  and  your  weapons, 
lireak  the  red  stone  from  this  (puirry, 
Mould  and  make  it  into  ]'eaee-ri])es, 
Take  the  reeds  that  j>row  beside  you. 
Deck  them  with  your  brif>htest  feathers, 
Smoke  the  calumet  to,i>ether, 
And  as  brothers  live  henceforw^ird  I  " 
Tiieu  upon  the  ground  the  warrioi's 
Threw  their  cloaks  and  shirts  of  deerskin. 
Threw  their  wea])ons  and  their  war-gear. 
Leaped  into  the  rushing  rivei-, 
Washed  the  war-paint  from  tiieir  faces. 
Clear  above  them  Howed  the  water, 
Clear  and  limjjid  from  the  footprints 
Of  the  Master  of  Life  descending  ; 
Dark  below  them  dowed  the  water, 
Soihd  and  stained  witii  streaks  of  crimson, 
As  if  hlood  were  mingled  with  it  I 

l''i'oni  tlu'  river  came  the  warriors. 
Clean  and  washed   froni  all  their  war-[)aint 
On  the  banks  their  clubs  they  buried. 
Buried  all  their  warlike  weapons. 
Gitcho  Muuito,  the  mighty, 


A     l,K(ii:NI)    OK    (AI.IMKT    ISLAM). 


Tlio  (iirat  S|»irit,  the  creator, 

Smiled  ui)on  liis  liel[)less  cliildi-cii  I 
And  in  silence  all  tiie  warritH's 

I?roke  the  red  stone  of  the  (luany. 

Snu)othe(l  and  formed  it  into  l'eacc-l'ii»es. 

Hroke  the  lonf>-  reeds  1)y  the  river, 

Decked  them  with  their  hri^litest  feathers, 

And  dei»arted  oaoh  one  liomewanl. 

While  the  Master  of  J^ife,  ascendinji, 

Througli  the  opening  of  eloud-curtains, 

Tiiroujih  the  doorways  of  the  heaven, 

\'anished  from  hefore  their  faces. 

In  the  smoke  tliat  rolled  around  him, 

The  Pukwana  of  the  Peaee-I'ipe. 
Tlie  Indian  name  for  French  creek,  in  the  village  of 
Clayton,  was  Weteringhra-(Juentere.  the  "Fallen  Fort,  "  or 
ju'rhaps  more  literally,  "the  ])lace  where  the  hills  fell  down.  " 
An,  ancient  and  rude  fortification  at  the  mouth  of  French 
Creek  was  the  traditional  boundary  line  between  the  Irotjuois 
and  Al}>()n<|uin  nations  whom  the  first  white  navigator  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  found  engaged  in  a  war  which  began  before 
time  was  fixed  even  by  uncertain  tra(liti(»n. 

The  war  was  said  to  have  originated  with  a  Inniting  par- 
ty composed  of  a  half  dozen  young  men  of  each  nation.  One 
party  followed  an  elk  ntany  leagues  and  returned  without 
ganu'  whatsoever.     The  other  i)arty  then  set  out  and  meeting 


with  inunefliate  success  the  lately  van<|ui 


died 


party  was  con 


pe 


lied   t 


o  <lo  s(|uaw   worl 


"kinni 


ng,  dres-uig   an 


(I  coo 


kin 


Til e  jealousy  of  the  latter  was  now  aggravated  by  humilijition, 
and  a  feud  was  (Migendered  which  their  few  living  descendants 
secretly  cherish  to  this  day. 

Jl|is  feiul  was  precipitated  h)Up  uftei'  the  ntlvent  of  liift- 


•  vl 


A   i.i;(;i:ni>  <)|-  cAi.rMKT  isla.nI). 


\v:it!iii,  tlic  river  ii(i(l.  iiiid  in  violation  of  his  admonitions.  Af- 
ter this  niurth'rous  war  had  Itreii  cai'ried  on  Juany  yeai's  the 
laml  was  t  iken  from  the  .Mississ,i,u,nas  l»y  the  (ireat  Spirit  wlio 
was  more  tlian  ever  <lis]iU'ase(l  with  his  elioseii  wliom  he  liad 
|»hieed  in  the  .Xhinatoana.  tiiis  (iar<h'n  of  Ivh'n,  oidy  to  have 
the  coiiiiiaet  of  |ieaee  rudely  viohitech 

An  ishmd  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  ''hiylon,  presents 
in  the  contour  of  its  siioi'es.  and  <;i'nei'ai  to|)o^'raphy,  .i  won- 
(h'l'ful  resemldance  to  an  Imhan  pipe,  and  for  thisi-ea.son  h)n«'' 
ayo  it  was  called  ('AMMK'r.  This  island  it  is  claimed  is  no 
other  than  the  Calumet,  the  iiiuantic  I'eace-I'ipe.  smoked  by 
(Jitche  Manito.  the  miyhty,  "as  a  signal  to  the  nations."  the 
ascending  smoke  from  whi(di  attracted  the  attention  t)f  tlic 
I'rophets  of  the  nations  upon  whose  interpretation  the  tribes 
of  men  were  immediately  calletl  touctlu'r  at  .\hinatoana.  the 
(Janh'U  of  the  (ireat  Spirit,  the  Mille  lies  of  the  French  voy- 
a^eurs,  the  Thousand  Islands  of  toilay. 

(Jitche  .\hniito  sent  niessenuers  to  hear  away  tlie  countiy 
of  the  Mississaji'uas  and  they  came  with  a  ureat  skin  blanket 
wiiich  was  let  down  by  the  four  corners.  into  this  blanket 
,M;inat:iana.  tin-  (Jarden  of  the  (Jreai  Sjiirit.  with  its  I'ivers, 
lakes  ami  mountains,  was  carefully  |)laced.  the  ureal  ( 'ahnnet 
in  the  center.  Thi'  blanket  with  its  bui'den  was  borne  away 
skyward,  but  as  the  wondei'iuL!,'  .Mississaiiuas  ^azeil  upward 
they  were  terrified  at  discovering,'  that  the.  niessennors  liad 
broken  their  hold.  The  uai'den  and  the  yreat  blanket  came 
tuinlilinji-  down  and  was  bi'oken  into  a  thousand  lVa<iMients — 
ami  thus  orin'inateil  tin' Thousand  Islamls.  The  ( 'aluniet  wr.s 
fairly  pulverized,  a  token  that  the  covenant  between  theOreat 
S]»irit  and  the  nations  was  no  more.  The  .Mississaj>uas  wei'e 
no  lonji'er  the  chosen  jieople  They  had  broken  the  pledtiv  to 
keej)  peace  amon<i'  themselves  and    (iitche    Manito  had    made 


M:(iKNI)    OK    CAI.IMKT    ISLAND. 


Ins  iUlSiCl-  lllil 


tlu'  ])i])e  of  iH'iico, 


nilV'st  !)>•  the  si^nificiint  l)r(>!ikin}i- <'f  the  Ciiluim't, 


Jlcncc,  WetcTiiifihriMJurntciv.  "  the  place  wlicrc  the  liil 


fell  down. 


m 


PIHIiiil 


Daniel  nillikin,  American. 


Your  graiKlfathor  mid  \  settled  in  this  neighborhood  in 
1S(M),  niakino-  the  louj;'  journey  from  Conneeticut  Avitli  one 
liorse  and  a  pair  of  oxen,  eanipinj;-  by  the  way  wherever  nif>;ht 
overtook  us.     We  were  married  l)Ut  a  few  tlays  before  settinji- 


out,  and  vou  mav 


•iure  it   was  no 


t  a   1 


uxurious   wcMldinii' 


journey,  but  stout  hearts  and  bright  hopes  kept  us  uood  con 


panv 


Our  new  home  overlook(>d    l.ake  Ontario,  wliieh   seemed 


to  me 


broa 


eoi 


dd 


(I  as 


)e  seen. 


tl 


le  oeea 


n,  for  no  trace  of  tlie  fartlier  sliore 


Full  live  years  we  worked   from  daylight  to 
dark,  and  then  had  reallv  less  than  we  brought  with  us.  Your 


father,    no,  grandfather,  was  a    tanner  a 


nd   currier  and    had 


»ften  talked  of  returning  to  his  trade,  but  he  could  not  read- 
ily gel  such  employment  I'veii  in  this  new  country.  One  day 
he  came  from  \a\  Famine,  and  turning  the  liorse  loose  at 
the  door,  came  in  and  sat  by  the  Hreplace  ip  silence  a  long 
time.  My  heart  sank  when  hi>  did  speak.  We  were  to  leave 
our  home  and  my  ]tarents,  who  had  followed  us,  and  go  to 
('ynu<la,  wherv  lit'  hud  contriU't^4  t"  work  as  forenum  iw  A 


DANIKI.    MlI.l.lKIN,     AM  KUKA  X. 


;>;> 


tannery,  and  was  to  riH-eive  oiglit  dollars  in  j^old  overv  week 
for  his  sorviccs.  it  was  a  bold  stroke  wliieli  to  our  minds 
foretold  j>;reat  wealth,  and  yet  we  were  reluetant  to  leave  our 
little  clearinj>-  and  i^o  anionf>-  a  strange  jieople  in  a  foreign  land. 
Besides,  the  thought  of  living  within  the  king's  domains  was 
not  pU'asant. 

Rumors  of  trouble  between  the  young  republic  and(rreat 
Britain  had  reached  us  from  time  to  time,  Imtthe  single  news- 
paper that  came  fortnightly  said  Kngiand  dare  not  light  again, 
besides  should  there  be  war,  Canada  would  side  witli  us  and 
it.  too,  become  fret'.      At  length  our  fears  were  put  aside  and 

ere  no  sti'amers   then,  and   two  davs 


we 


left 


l)V 


il.  tl 


lere   w 


later  landed  far  uj)  the  Canadian  shore  at  a  little  village  con- 
taining a  church,  a  few  htg  houses  and  the  tannery  store. 

For  a  while  we  saved  money,  but  with  the  ugly  war  news 
the  times  grew  harder  and  hai'der  until  we  were  compelled  to 
take  stoi'c  pay  entirely.  When  war  was  actually  declari'd  your 
grandfather,  and  the  foui'  Americans  lu'  had  brought  with 
him,  divided  to  return  home  since  in  the  heat  of  argument 
they  had  already  gotten  into  trouble  with  the  tannery  hands. 
They  were  good  workmiMi  ami  had  ol)tained  such  favor  with 
tilt' contractors  that,  to  induce  them  to  stay,  the  pay  in  gold 
was  resumed  and  they  were  assured  that  should  they  remain 
they  would  be  exempt  from  militai'y  duty.  Then  came  the 
repoi-t  that  the  British  had  burned  Boston.  That  decided  our 
jieople  that  they  must  go  back  and  defend  their  homes,  but 
they  tarried  a  few  days  in  the  hope  that  it  was  a  falre  r(>port 
made  to  encourage  lovaltv  in  the  Canadas. 


One  morning  we 


heard  the  booming  of  cannon  at  York, 


now  Toronto,  and  our  men  made  no  etl'ort  to  conceal  theirjoy 
at  (ieneral  Bike's  bold  attack  and  subse(|Uent  capture  of  the 
citv.     All  Canada  was  in  high  dudgeon,  and  our  little  colony 


5(J 


DANIKI.    MIM.IKIN,    AM  KHICAX. 


siittiTcd  its  share  of  abuse,  and  wo  weic  given  to  understand 
that  we  must  roj)ress  our  feelin}>s  or  sutler  the  eonsequences. 
Although  tlio  season  was  advancing  and  hike  navigation  dan- 
gerous, the  Americans  l)egan  at  once  the  secret  construction  of 
a  hirge  bateau  in  which  we  were  all  to  return.  Every  man  in 
the  village  was  ordered  to  arm  and  i'e])ort  at  tlu'  church  whence 
they  were  to  march  to  the  recapture  of  York  You  may  be 
sure  haste  was  made  in  the  construction  of  tlie  boat,  thebuiM- 
ors  paying  no  heed  to  the  warning  to  ecpiip  for  war.  It  was 
completed  two  days  after  the  militia  had  departed,  and  our 
hopes  ran  high  while  loading  it  with  stores  for  the  return  to 
home,  friends  and  country. 

While  tlius  engaged  six  mounted  redcoats  npi>eared  upon 
the  rise  above  us  and  demanded  a  surrender.  Our  men  were 
armed  and  had  agreed  to  tight  if  the  officers  came  to  i)ress 
them  into  the  service,  but  your  grandtather  was  the  only  one 
to  stand  his  ground  and  fire.  Jlis  shot  was  returned  with  a 
volley,  and  he  fell  with  a  bullet  in  his  arm.  Springing  to  his 
feet  be  began  to  reload,  and  as  the  soldiers  wi'rc  pre|)aring  to 
lire  another  volley  I  ran  in  tVont  of  him  and  dai'ctl  them  to 
shoot  a  Woman.  Blood  trickled  from  his  hand,  and  as  1  ti'ied 
to  bandage  his  wound  the  brutal  soldiers  closi'd  about  us  and 
your  grandfather  was  bound  to  a  saddle  before  I  could  dress 
his  arm  which  hung  limp  at  his  side.  They  started  away  and 
I  attempted  to  follow,  but  the  soldiers  threatenecl  to  shoot  me 
also  if  1  made  further  ado.  .My  husband  bade  me  return  to 
the  housi'  and  mind  the  children,  and  as  diey  gallojjed  away 
I  saw  a  pistol  held  to  his  head  for  shouting  to  me  that  he 
would  be  Ijack  that  very  night. 

I  watched  them  out  of  sight,  and  then  with  a  breaking 
lieart  eidcred  the  cabin.  There  1  found  Ruth  Sctphronia  and 
Tluuikful  AmaiiUu  armed  with  table  knives  in  emulation  of 


DANIKI.    MII.I.IKIN,    AM  KlilCA  N. 


.■)7 


the  spirit  of   Anicricii.  wliilc  little  Asa   lOhcnc/or  was  poiiriiij;' 
))0\V(U'r  from  the  lioi'ii  into  liis  milk. 

The  vision  of  tlicii'  poui-  wounded   father.  l)oiMie   away  to 

an  unknown  fate  was  before  me  day  an<l  nijiht.  ami  1  nearly 

worried  myself  into   insanity.      Week  after  week    wore  away 

and  yet  no  word  can  ■•  to   relieve   my    ilistress  or   eontirm  my 

fear.s.      Fre(|Uent  stories  of  hntehei-ies  Ity  Indians  em))loyed  in 

the  British  serviee  kept  me  in  constant   alarm    lest  sucii  a  fate 

overtake  nu' and   my   helpless   ehildren.     Often    I   took    them 

into  til."  woods  when  Indians   were  in    the   n(>i«ihhorhoo(l,  and 

came  back  only  wlien  eompelleil  l)y  c(ild  and  hunj>-er.      There 

weri' few  neij.;hbors  left,  and  lire    I    dare    n(,t   trust   for  there 

were  among  them  those   whom    1    believe<l   had   informe<l  the 

officers  of  our  intended  departure.      As  the   winter  came  on  a 

sense  of  my  utter  loneliness  bore  me  down,  and   to  return  to 

my   parents  became   the   whole  subject  of  my  thought.       It 

would  soon  be  a  i>hvsical   lu'cessitv  sinc(>  the  i)rovisions  were 


low  and  the  monev  red 


need 


to  a  siuiile  iiold  coin,      in  the  feai' 


of  beiufi' massacred  the  few  pt'ople  in  the  villajic  were  pre- 
paring; to  leave,  and  at  this  1  was  detei'mined  to  face  any  dan- 
ger than  remain  entirely  alont'. 

To  reero.ss  the  lake  at  this  season  was  next   to  impossil)le, 
even  for  experienced  sailors.      1  knew  the  St.    Lawrence  river 


must  be  fro/en  over  at    Kini'stnn    w 


liicl 


1    was  strouiilv    garri- 


soned  by  the  Ih'itish.  A  woundeil  soldiei'  brouaht  me  word 
that  your  grandfather  had  lieen  taken  to  that  post  for  trial, 
and  that  settled  a  pui'pose  to  return  that  way  in  the  hope  of 
seeing  my  husband,  if  but  for  a  moment.  \  farmer  was  en- 
gaged to  carry  us  to  Kingston,  and  after  nearly  a  week's  trav- 
el in  deep  snow  we  I'eaehed  the  barracks.  The  farnu-r  made 
inquiry  for  my  husband  and  was  told  that  he  had  been  taken 
to  Montreal  and  shot  for  treason. 


DANIKI.    MII.I.IKIN.    A  M  Kl!  ICA  N. 


1  (lid  not  t'iiiiit — wdiiicii  dill  not  liiivc  the  lial)it  tluMi — • 
noitluT  was  I  greatly  sur|iiis('d.  lor  I  iiad  ali'i'a<ly  Icariu'd 
soiiutlniifi'  of  the  scvciity  of  martial  law.  'riicrc  was  no  time 
to  slic'd  hitter  tears  ovei'  our  ut'erl;.  forlorn  condition,  and  to 
iiki'  the  situation  completely  dismal,  the  river  at  this  point, 


m 


a  of  lloatinu'  ice 


II 


onio 


where  I  had    hopi'il  to  ci'oss.  was  a 
si-emed  as  far  away  as  at  the  outset. 

We  were  kindly  cared  foi'  at  a  h)<x  tavern  hy  the  Ian<lla(ly, 
hei'self  American  horn,  until  the  lii'st  fair  day,  when  I  reso- 
lutely sit  out  with  my  three  children  to  lind  n  cro.w.xinjr  fartiler 
down  the  River.      It  was  said  there 


s  firm  ice  from  shore  to 
shore  at  ih'ockville.  fifty  miles  distant,  hut  the  task  did  not 
appall  nie  for  the  hope  of  ni.ttin^  my  children  to  tlu'ii'  <;rand- 
l)arents  ^ave  me  couraue.  iJravely.  then,  we  traveled  a  coun- 
try tilled  with  hostile  Indians  and  soldiers,  to  my  mind  one 
fully  as  wicked  as  the  otln'r.  remaining'  over  niyht  with  the 
settlers  except  once  when  the  distance  hetween  neighhoi's  was 
too  far  to  he  c(»vered  in  a  day.  W'c  passed  that  nijiht  hy 
the  remains  of  a  lii'c  not  thri'c  houi's  deserted,  and  ate  a  little 
dried  venison  which  a  farmer's  wife  had  ])ut  in  the  hand  of 
one  of  the  children  as  we  left.  One  morning  a  j>reat  huUaha- 
loo  was  raised  aiiout  the  house  of  some  kind  people  who  cared 
for  us  hy  makiiifi-  a  hed  on  the  floor  in  fr(»nt  of  the  fireplace. 
A  loud  ra]i  at  the  iloor.  then  a  <irulf  voice  shoute<l  : 

"  Open  and  surremf.'r  or  we  will  fire  the  house  I  " 
In  alarm  the  dcxtr  was  thrown  opi'U  an<l  twenty  diMf>()ons 
were  discovered  aliout  the  little  hut.  .\n  olllcer  looked  ahout 
the  liou.'^e  sharply  and  said  information  had  reached  him  that 
a  fennile  spy  was  harhoi'ed  within  and  must  yo  with  him  to 
the  harracks.  as  well  as  the  farmer  whose  loyalty  he  said  they 
now  had  reason  to  suspect.  I  presented  my.self  and  ehihiren 
and  told  the  story  of  my  travels.       Our  pitiful  couflition  must 


ft. 


HX    MOVNTEK    lU'.DCO.VrS    Al'l'F.ARED.  " 


liANlKI,    MII.I.IKIN.     .\Mi;i;liAN.  •>•' 

liiivc  slijiiiii'd  liiiii.  fni'  jil'tcr  (•(.usiiltiii.u  willi  iiin.llicf  dllircr 
iiiid  asking'  iiic  a  .ureal  many  (lucstions.  lie  threw  a  silver  pieee 
iiili)  the  <l<)i)r  and  they  rode  away. 

Tlie  <h'ar  Lord  only  knows  what  we  siill'ered  the  next  day. 
faeinii  a  stinjiin<i'  mn'ther  wliieli  came  ii|>  alter  tlie  I'ain  (if  tlie 
niy-ht  Itetnre.  On.  on,  1  went,  earryinu  lirst  one  eliild  and 
then  the  other,  and  sometimes  two.  .\n  occasional  liiimpse  of 
the  .\merican  shore  had  kept  u|.  my  conra.ue  all  aloii^  th*' 
weai-y  miles,  hut  fields  of  moving  ice  |irevented  my  crossing-. 
Home  almost  in  sinhi,  yet  far,  far  away,  and  I  was  so  weary. 
The  trial  was  telling  ui)on  tiie  children  too.  and  1  prayed  that 
they  mij-ht  he  ^iven  strength  from  ahove  until  we  crossed  the 
liiH's  and  came  anion^'  niy  own  countrymen. 

1  cut  the  villau'e  of  lii'ockville  short,  tea rin<i  anotiiei' or- 
deal of  hein.u-  mistaken  for  a  spy.  .\nother  hour's  travel 
hroujiht  us  to  a  point  where  the  ice  seemed  iirm  all  the  way 
across  to  .\h)rristown,  where  were  stationed  American  troops. 

.\s  we  struck  out  on  the  ice  the  chililreii  wel'e  knee  deep 
in  the  water,  and  ahout  us  were  whirlpools  caused  hy  the  wa- 
ter drawing  down  thronuh  nirholes  in  the  ice.  I  shuddered 
at  tlie.su  dark  vorti'xes,  in  si/e  suiiicient  to  swallow  us  at  a 
o-uln,  and  it  was  oulv  hv  winding  and  turnin«i;  that  we  avoided 
these  new  dangers.  Would  either  of  my  three  halx's  survive 
such  unnatural  exposure?  Would  the  frail  hridge  support 
us-.'  We  would  face  still  greater  dangers  rather  tluui  turn 
hack.  The  water  fro/.e  to  our  skirts,  the  weary  little  feet 
dragged  heavily  at  my  side,  and  I  felt  the  hold  on  my  dress 
weaki'uing  as  the  frost-hitton  lingers  i)ecanie  numh.  ami — • 
heavens,  was  my  hahy  hoy  freezing  in  my  arms.  I  strove 
blindly  on  willing  to  die  if  1  could  hut  get  my  p(«risliiug  chil- 
dren to  friends. 

A  loud  shout  startled  mv  heart  into  feverish  aeliuu  at  the 


(10 


ItASTKI,    MII.I.Ik'IN".    AMKliK  AS'. 


tlioiiuht  <»(■  li('l|i.  (iiily  til  nil  liiit  sli»|i  ill  till'  fear  of  iiiKitlicr  cii- 
coiiiitcr  with  tlic  fcdciials.  Uiit  the  Loid  is^nod.  I  rccoiiiii/.cil 
tlic  Miiiiurni  III'  the  Aiiicriciiii  iiiilitiii.  iiinl  tli(>  next  iiKiiiicnt 
sti'diiH'  ni'iiis  iiiirr  ii<  all  acmss  tlic  trcaclicnuis  clianiicl  Id  linucr 
ice  wlici'c  tlic  (li'ayiiniis  were  waitiliy'  In  make  a  s|K'('(ly  llijilit 
with  us  til  the  harrarks  at  Miiri'istnwii. 


ic  rliililrcii,  scarce 


IV  a 


1.1c  t 


II  siicak.  were  riilleil  in  lilankets  liv  the  siifuenii's  wile 


who  liai'eil    not    lirin<.','    Iliein    In  tlie    lire,  ami    in    a 


lew 


ilav; 


reciivercil  their  wiiiitcil  activity.  When  my  story  waste'.il  I 
lieard  many  threats  aiiiunn'  the  rnuuh  tr(i(i|icrs.  (iiie  actually 
projiiisino-  til  eriiss  ami  Imrii  IJrnck villc  that  very  iii^iht. 

Alter  reiiiainiim  a  lew  ilavs  we  were  sullicieiitl  v  reciivercil 


tn  resiiine  lUir    iuurnev,  hut    we 


liiil 


mi   imire   walKint 


Ik 


Our 


new  IViemls  jirnviilcil  a  way  t'nr  us  nearly  hall'  the  ilistanec 
ami  the  reinaimlcr  we  ciivei'ed  hy  slmrf  rides  with  iieiuhhurs. 
It  was  with  a  heavy  heart  that  I  a|i|iriiacheil  the  scene  iil'  nur 
lirst  hiiu.sekee|iin,ii'.  hesides  the  time  had  imw  cnme  when  my 
children  must  learn  the  truth  nl'  their   ralhei's   alisenci.      Mv 


la 


rents    Were  iiverjiivcd     at   iHir    return    and     received    us   ;;s 


was  lie ii'i '  ni;m      '  ( 


I'riiin  the  dead.      I  Imuiiht  ci/iht  yards uf  hlack  calicnaml  made 

it  iutd  a  dress  I'nr  Sundays.      'I'lie  winter  |iasseil  slowly  emiu^h 

iind  when  the   liirds  came   with    s|iriiiii'  I 

disheartened  as   each    iiiitc   seemed  to  re  all  uiiis 

we  had  made  for  convert inii' our  Ion  diif>' 

lield. 

One  Sundav  1  had  a  call  rroin  N'      lilmr    I      -liaeli.  whose 


I  oor.  weak  wil'i-  had  died  of  the  fever- 


Well, 


von    ueedn  I    a   thoU!>Iit    I    was  iii  ad 


hl'ol' 


ke   III 


ji;raiidfiith(?r  a  little   snaiijiishly.  and   to   our  surprise   he  told 
the  remainder  of  the  story  himself  in  these  words  : 

When  the  dragoons  cajitured  ine  1  was  in  ;^reat  pain  from 
niv  wound,  hut  the  otiiceis  made  no  offer  to  hamlan'c  mvarm, 


hANIKI.    MIl.I.Ik'IN'.    AM'MMCAN. 


(!1 


not  cvcii  iil'tcr  rcjicliiiiu  \*\vk.  In  tlic  jiiirrison  tlic  only  nt- 
ti-ntion  I  liiid  Wfis  to  lie  cliiiincil  t»  ;i  jxisi  like  n  slnvc,  iiml 
luivc  ii  ('(till  nicnl  ln'nntilit  inicc  n  d.iy.  l\>y  a  week  lliis  ncj^'lccl 
continued,  sind  then  twcniv  of  us  wci'i'  lastcncd  in  tlic  hold  ol' 


a 


■ichoonci'  and  taUcn  to  Kinyston. 


Al'tci'  a  lew  days"  luisci'alilc  trc.itnicnt  there  we  were 
started  for  Montreal  in  bateaux,  the  ollicer  conipellinji'  me  to 
labor  at  the  oars  altlioujih  all  luit  dead  with  |»ain  from  my 
wounds.  .\t  the  rapids  so  closely  did  we  [ass  to  the  islands 
that  at  tinu's  Ihe  branches  of  trees  biushe<l  the  boat  as  wo 
I»asse(l,  l)ut  escape  was  impossible  in  my  disabled  condition, 
altiiou;;h  1  was  sorely  tempted  to  jum|t  over  ami  swim,  trust- 
ing that  tlu'ir  slow  lliiddocl<s  would  <;ive  me  tinu-  to  reach  tlie 
shoi'e.  At  Montreal  we  were  penned  in  a  umird  house  and 
not  only  sull'ered  ne<ilecl  but  were  torlnreil  with  false  reports 
A    fiirnnd   charge  of  treason    was   read  to 


Brit 


isli  success. 


me,and  what  1  suppose  was  the  de.ath  jienalty  was  delivered  in 
i'^rench.      I  was  still  in  total  darkness  as  to  my  fate. 

One  afternoon  the  .\mericau  ]>risoners  were  roughly  or- 
dereil  out  of  the  log  prison,  and  undera  strong  guard  mar(died 
out  of  the  gai'i'ison  as  we  vei'ily  bclieveil  to  oui'  death.  i''or 
two  (lavs  we  were  mandieil  westward  in  ignorance  of  our  i\v>i- 
timitioii,  or  the  |)urpost'  in  removing  us.  Then  from  a  hill  we 
saw  a  Hag  of  truce  and  sitldii'rs  in  the  American  uniform. 
There  we  were  told  they  had  l)rought  us  out  to  light  our  coun- 
trymen, but  Ix'fore  we  were  armed  our  enemies  surrendered 
and  we  were  free. 

After  the  lirst  e.Ncitement  was  oviM'  I  determined  to  go  to 
my  fannly,  if  indeed  they  had  not  met  the  fate  of  a  liundvcd 
deaths  wliich  1  fancied  they  liad  met  at  the  hands  of  tlie 
Indians,  tU'   fron\    starvation,  exposure  or    wolves.       Hack   we 


Il  ' 


ItANllM.    MII.l.lKlN,    AMi:i;l<AN. 


iiiiiirlu'd  iis  rapidly  as  i)i)ssil)lc  t- 
nut  hciiiy;  in  tlu'  rciiul:;r  service 

[  clioso  the  ("aiiadiau 
at  iiijilit  fearing-   to  incct 


,  Fert  'ricoiidcni.ua,  wiiciicc  I, 
was  i»cniiitt('d  to  depart. 


tliorou 


li'litan 


ant 


I  traveled    I'lostly 


tlie   British   soldiery.      I  crossed 


tl<.e 


St.  Lawri'iiee  to  Morn 
old  home  am 


town  for  the   purpose  of  f>-oint>-  to  my 


I  erossin.y-  the  lake  in  search  ef  wife  and  child 


ri'n. 


\t  the  barracks  the  account  ..f  my  capture  recalled  the  rescue 
,f  the  mother  and  ciiil.lren  from  their  perilous  trip  across  the 
I  knew  from    thai    moment    they    were   safi'.      I  came 
later   found   your  ,urandmother  in 
widow's  weeds  i>lant'n}i-  .some  hollyhocks  in  the  yard. 

"Let    nu"    help    you.  mother. "  1  said.       She   just    turned 


lee.  an<i 

awav  at  once  and   a   week 


around,  fell  into  my  arm^ 


nd— had  a  t>-oo<l  (-ry.    Her  parent. 


j>avo  nie  a  woik 

honor   of  niv  return,  hut   sum^ 


lerful   welcome  and   ji'ot   up  a  .uri'at  dmner 


m 


■how   no  one  had    nnich  of  an 


appe 


tite. 


Tl 


le  companions  w 


ho  tied  at   my  capture  joined   (leneral 
Pike's  forces  and  with  them  retreated  when  York  was  letaken. 
andafterwar.len-atie.l  in  the  battle  at    Sackets    Harbor,  and. 
1  iiear  vou  sav  another  word  al>out  joining  Can- 


Kl 


if 


ever 


ada  to  the  states,  vou  will  n^ 


)t  <-et  the  bav  colt.     Hemend)er 


X 


Wind  and  Weather  Permitting. 


'I'lic  La  l''aiiiiiU'  lislicniu'i'  an'aii.t:c<l  a  huat  I'acc  that  is 
Well  rfMiu'iiilicrcd  l)y  tlic  oldci'  settlers,  leastwise  those  who  saw 
it  with  the  fevefisli  imatiiiiatioii  (li'vinith.  Far  ami  wide  the 
event  was  heralded  on  (|uafter-sheet  |)osti'i's  in  this  style  : 

CKAM)     Ki:<IATTA. 


'urse.  >*;.")(  ».<)(!.  iVe 


Spring  lishin,ii'.  attended  liy  ^ood    hiek.  was  over,  -o  those 


64 


WIND    AND    WKATIIKI!     I'Kli.M  ITTIN<i 


now  resting'  from  their  hihors  made  jfoncral  ]>i'('))arati(»iis  lor 
the  race.  July  l'\)urlli  tliere  wen-  '12  entries  of  tisliiiiji'  craft, 
many  of  tlien;  titled  with  suspieiously  new  sails,  others  with  a 
•'  cloth  "  recently  added  to  the  liccli,  and  at  least  two  with  ill- 
lit  ting  borrowed  sails  of  larger  dimensions  than  the  ordinary 
business  rig.  Otf  the  shore  cami'  a  snunt  bree/e  which  had 
freshened  not  a  little  when  the  conu-stants  anchored  in  line 
across  a  narrow  reach  from  the  lake,  jil)s  furled,  booms  aswing, 
mainsail  tilling  and  backing  at  the  caprice  of  the  wind,  and 
])icke<l  crews  all  alert.  On  the  shore  a  crowd  is  waiting  for  a 
signal  for  the  start,  the  while  somewhat  jealously  discussing 
the  rig  of  a  yacht  with  tlying  jib  and  a  string  of  flags,  manned 
by  a  crew  of  boys  in  duck  })ants,  and  steered  with  a  wheel. 

Hang  I  A  pistol  shot  from  the  hands  of  the  referee,  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  so  everlastingly  dignified  as  to  compel  his 
own  boys  an<l  girls  to  call  him  "  "Sipiire.  " 

Hang  I  'i'wenty-two  jibs  shoot  up  the  ibrestav,  iWenty-two 
cables  are  slipped,  twenty-two  tillers  hard  up,  twenty-two  prows 
fall  away,  ami  twenty-two  lishing  boats,  clean  as  a  cabined 
steam  yacht,  cleave  the  bine  waters  ami  churn  up  a  wave  of 
foam  in  a  gi'and  charge  for  the  lee  shore  not  thirty  ro(ls  dis- 
tant. 

Ilanl  alee! 

The  sailing  i.iaster  of  the  boat  having  the  favored  position 
c(»nies  into  the  wind  and  then  with  his  starboard  tacks  aboard 
claims  the  I'ight  of  way,  compelling  the  first  comer  to  go  in 
stays  so  (piickly  that  the  gravel  bags  fall  overboard,  others  to 
ware  and  some  to  gyiie.  lie  takes  the  bowsprit  from  one  loo 
venturesome,  and  runs  his  iiorn  through  the  leech  of  another 
who  had  gone  about  in  llie  vain  hope  of  laying  to  windward 
of  the  licet.  Another  boat  with  broken  I'uddei'  is  run  out  high 
and  dry  on  the  bench  ;  another  i.s  turned  completely  over,  tlio 


WIND    AND    \V1:ATI1I:1!     l'i:HMriTIN(i 


r..") 


crew  pcrcliinji-  aloiifj,'  the  kvv\  unliccdiMl  ))y  i\\v  more  rortmiiito 
'•  (li'fcndcrs.  " 

^\'llil('  tiu'  boats  arc  (l(i<l,<iiii^'  each  otiicr  in  a  cdiit'usion  «if 
llappiiifi'  sails,  loud  orders,  and  clicois  iVoiii  llic  sliore,  a  hiti,' 
fellow  is  setting  a  j>atl-to])sail,  "just  ier  to  put  on  style.  "  as 
P>one  Mareeau  expressed  it.  I)Ut  ])ride  ^oetli  before  a  fall,  Mr. 
Bifi-  One,  and  ere  the  e.xtra  sail  is  fairly  set  the  halyards  foul 
and  the  sail  (laps  away  with  taek  adrift  and  elewline  spinninjj,' 
out  ".ntil  it  reaehes  a  kink,  when  the  topsail  suddenly  hlls.  l)el- 
lies  away  to  leeward,  and  the  boat  within  an  inch  of  capsiz- 
iiifj,-,  ships  so  much  water  as  to  make  her  all  but  unmanajicable, 
and  she  is  withdrawn  frcm  the  race.  Si'ventccu  boats  over- 
strained with  a  crowd  of  canvas  thrash  the  narrow  waters  into 
a  choppy  sea.  The  lUuebird  breaks  her  mast  off  close  to  tlie 
jaws,  and  is  towed  into  a  friendly  covo. 

Interest  in  the  contest  nai'rows  down  to  the  three  or  fonr 
in  the  lead.  Nancy  Marceau  has  already  observed  in  the  con- 
fusion of  sails  what  others  luivc  not.  She  has  seen  the  Fancy, 
with  tho  F  chan,L!,(Ml  by  somt-  miscreant  with  a  little  coal  tar 
intoan  apolo,tiy  for  an  N,  stand  straiuht  thi'ou,i;h  the  reach 
without  once  tackin,<i-. 

"  Is  .h)b  sailing-  the  Nancy-er-Fancy  ?  "  asked  young  i.ane, 
looking  at  Nancy  as  though  she  ought  to  know. 

"  Dunno,  ■'  she   i-urtly  i-c]tlied  with    llnshing  chet'k  and  a 


look  that  gave  the  lie  to  the    words.      "  It's  none  of  my 


bnsi- 


ness  and  less  o 


f  vonrs.  .Mm  Lane 


'•  That  might  be  and  then  agin  it  mightn't,  "  ami  .lim 
niatle  a  telescope  of  his  Jiands  to  cnt  oil  the  snliject. 

Out  of  the  reach  into  the  bi'oad  bay  speil  tiie  boats  ni'ged 
by  a  stiii'ening  hree/e,  their 'wimiwanl  runboards  lined  with 
'hags  of  gravel  whicdi  (piickly  shifted  for  the  other  tack,  keeps 
them  right  Hide  up  and  in  sailing  trim.     The  Fancy  rounds 


IK) 


WIND    AND    WKA'I'IIi:!!    I'KKM  ll  Tl  N(  I 


tlic  uuttT  mark  lollowcd  hy  the  Saiicv  .lane  and  ( 'ra/,y  Jack 
«'l(isi'  U])(iii  lici'.  No  sooner  is  each  hoat  i'airly  aruuinl  tlic  Imoy 
and  het'orc  the  wind  on  tlic  ii'tnrn  tlian  a  \n^  lugsail  isrnn  up 
tlu'  mast,  a  Ixiom  sliot  out  and  as  tlu-  sails  lill  the  boats  fairly 
Hy  over  the  course,  eaeli  carrying  a  hone  in  her  tooth  which  is 
l)lainly  discerned  by  the  i)articipants,  in  s]>irit,  at  least,  on  tlu' 


shore, 


"Job  is  ragjU'ing  it  to  her  for  first  prize,  sr.re.  "  remarked 
a  young  iicigbboi'  lad  who  hail  maile  one  trip  on  the  U|)per 
lakes  and  returneil  with  a  lot  of  knowledge,  and  a  blue  flannel 
shirt  ornauienteil  with  crossed  anchors  in  white  brai;!. 

••  lie  can't  steer  a  raft  across  the  canawl  ami  fetch  the 
f'lirdcr  side,  ""  sneci'ingly  remai'keil  old  Marceau. 

••  He'll  rag  the  stick  outen  her  if  he  don't  take  in  his 
washing  afore   ten    minutes,  "    1 


e  coniinueif,  antf   t'Vcn    as  lie 


spoke  the  spectators  discovered  the  whiteciijis  ••basing  each 
otliei'  in  the  wake  of  the  flying  racer.-.  The  ('ra/.y  .hick  was 
farthest  astern  and  caught  the  stpiall  almost  unawai'es.  She 
lifted  and  plunged,  then  an  onnno'.is  cracking  forwai^d  proved 


trouble  from  an  nnlooked-tbi'  sian'ce.      The  forefoot  twisted  oi 


It 


the  slei)  and  the  mast  alreadv  1 


lending  forwarcf,  pitciiecf  into 


the  boiling  waters  under  hei'  bows,  tearing  out  the  deck  and 
snapping  backstays  like  threads.  The  hardy  crew,  wet  to  the 
skin.  \c  ((uickly  cleared  up  the  wreck  and  with  the  jibboom 
lasheil  to  .he  s|iliii1ered  deck  and  a  bit  of  sail  bagging  from  it_ 
they  scudded  pa<t  the  inner  buoy,  ami  by  (lint  of  vigorous 
biiijiiig  succeeded  ill  making  a  landing,  without  further  dam- 
ai:e.  ()fthe  fleet  which  started  in  the  race  one  after  a iiol licr 
had  ilropped  out  until  only  the  fancy  and  the  Saucy  .lane  re- 
mained. .\tter  the  disaster  to  the  <  'ra/.y  -lack,  which  was  high, 
ly  appreciated  by  the  crowd  on  shore,  tlii'  two  remaining  ap- 
proache<l  the  inner  buoy  which    they    wer,'   to   t'.irii    and  then 


\V1NI)    AND    WKATIIKI!     I'KltM  ITTIN(  I 


(57 


ilmaiii  cover  the  coursf.  Tlic  I"'imcv  caiuc  on  and  just  wlicii 
abreast  the  mark  i'urliMl  her  lu^'  sail  aiul  as  the  sheet  was 
hauU'd  in  by  ii  run  forward  she  swung  arouiul  to  the  wind 
and  heeled  over  until  her  keel  showed  elear  of  the  waves, 
and  she  seemed  drifting  to  wintlward  tV.mi  th?  niDmentuin  ae" 
erued  in  cirelin,u,'  the  mark. 

Craekl 

The  onlookers  are  treated  to  another  lonfi-hojx'd-for  hit  of 
excitement.  The  I"\uicy's  tnpmast  had  lirokcn  ott  at  the  truck 
and  her  peak  was  daniilin,ii'  in  the  lifts.  A  liunrc  is  goinj;' 
aloft,  hand  over  haiul.  on  the  windward  stays.  'ilie  wind 
St ren,iitlicns  and  the  liiiure  shrinks   closer   to   the  stump  of  the 


ma^ 


llai'd  luck  :  I'm  soi-i'v,  "  saiil  -lini  Lane,  ai 


1(1   Wv   ca 


Uiiht 


Nancy  .^h^rceau  watching  the  iiiiure  with  an   intensity  that  al 
most  hctrayed  her  recognition  of  the  nimlde  sailoi'. 

'•  .lim,  do  yon  think   he   will    f; 
an<l  yet  almost  tearfully. 

••  it's  none  o"  mv  business,  nni 


Nancv   bdldlv 


cli  less  \iiurn.      mockinj'lv 


repli<'d  the  nngallant  .lim.  smiling  at  his  own  eleven 


less 


Old  Marceau  watched  the  i'e|)airs    with  a  sailor's   admira- 


tion for  a   disolav  of  skill    ii 


I    close 


iiuarteis.    !>ut    his   shade 


eyes  failed  to  recogni/'  young  Collins  els  •  h  ■   wouM  not    have 
complimented  the  good  seamanship  which  (piickly  resulled  in 


secui'ing  a  block  to  the   stump   of  tl 
a  lialyai'd  into  it  the  peak  was  set  up 


e    mast,  and  alter  reeving 
<;nule  wr\'  liavinjj,'  been 


put  in  the  mainsail  and  Jib  in  the  meantime.  Then  the  l'\in- 
cy.  far  in  the  reai',  began  the  batth'  afre-h  amid  the  clieeis  of 
tli(  sailors  and  lishermen  who  had  gatlierecl  down  the  shore 
the  better  to  sei'  the  contest  for  the  supremacy  of  the  lishing 
lleet. 

"  Now.  "  said  .lohy  as  he  resumed  a  position  on  the  i|Uar- 


(iS 


WIND    AM)    WKATllKI!    I'KliM  ITTINfi 


tcr  Mild  stciidicd  tlic  tilUT  hy  the  round  turn  (if  a  voyv  licliiycil 
to  wind wii I'd,    "  \\v   shall    overhaul    the    Saiicv    if  that   stick 


lU) 


ld> 


^■ 


C'S, 


sa 


id  tl 


ic  man   tcndiiiu   |ii>  sheet,  "  she  is  carrvnu 


too  much  sail  now.  See  her  heel  down  and  lulf.  1  tell  you 
these  h,eas  deaden  the  headway  and  throw  lu'r  too  much  to  lee- 
ward when  her  lutt  is  slappiiiii'  like  that.  " 

Ti'.ckins"'  to  the  outer  mark  was  not  makiiiL!,'  rapid  liead- 
M'ay.  and  the  piin  counted  upon  for  the  l''ancy"s  li'ettinu,-  down 
to  steady  work  was  not  so  much  as  her  ^aliant  crew  had  ho])cd. 
A  plank  was  run  out  to  windward  and  a  man,  .lohnny  Hea- 
ver, clambered  out  toward  the  end  as  tin-  boat  careene<l.  and 
quickly  slid  down  a<iain  as  slu'  straifihtenecl  up.  It  was  truly 
a  comical  sight,  this  man  dangling  in  mid-air  at  an  elevation 
of  nearly  forty-tive  degrees  as  the  hoat  yielded  toajjuffand 
lay  down.  Successively  rising  and  falling  he  more  than  once 
took  a  ducking  from  a  liig  comher  that  reached  up  and  hit 
him  all  over  when  he  was  a  tritle  slow  alioiit  sli<liiig  hack, 
laughingly  remarking  :   "  Never  toocli  me.  "' 


he  Saucv   Jane  a   mile   to  windward    was   ncariiu 


th 


mark,  every  joint  .siiueaking  with  the  strain  of  canvas.  She  was 
shipping  water  like  a  canal  hoat  crossing  the  lak(>   when 


Zip! 

'Pile  ch'wline  tackle   stranded,    then    broke,   and    her  sail 


4  id  (1 


own  the 


oin  almost  to  (he  mast.     The  iie.xt  instant  sh 


bore  away  before  the  wiml  ami  was  running  like  a  wildcat 
away  iVoin  the  coveted  mark  with  her  helpless  crew,  the 
helm  hard  down  and  the  rudder  s(iua re  across  her  stern,  plow- 
ing up  the  water  like  an  exposed  ]»ropeller  blade.  ()nlythe 
most  skillful  seamanship  such  as  is  developed  in  the  lishing 
craft  of  the  (ireat  J.akes,  ])revented  a  disaster  before  she  cotUd 
be  brought  to  the  wind  and  her  sails  reefed.     This  Inst  acei- 


WIND  AMI  \\i;.\'nii;i! 


;i!MITTIN(i 


00 


(lent  l)i'ouglit  tlu' l)(>iits  vci'v  close  tnuctlicr  iiiul  as  tlicy  stdcd 
out  for  till'  mark  ill!  cyrs  wci'c  cciitcrtMl  ii|i()ii  the  scciic  and 
many  were  the  s|)('ciilali()iis  as  to  the  oiitcoiiic. 


There  she   "oe 


a  dozen   voices   shouted    as  one  hoat, 


not  half  the  crowd  knew  which,  rounded  the  mark  and  s([U:u'ctl 
away  for  the  homo  huoy.  The  next  instant  the  otlior  maneu- 
vered in  the  same  manner  and  the  two  boats  threaten  to  cap- 
size, first  on  one  side  and  th<>n  on  the  other,  ^o  heavv  is  the 
roll, 
the  iiome  lj;)at  is  recoonized  in  the  rear  l)Ut  now  fast  overhaul- 


A  hrijrlit,  new  lu,u-.sail  is  sent  up,  and  a  cheer  u-oes  up  a." 


\ug  her  competitor  wi'.h  t!:e  crew  in  white  duck.  Tln'  Fancy, 
startled  at  the  strain  of  another  :ail,  lca])e(l  forward  like  a 
(leer,  and  the  rolling-  suhsidini--  in  a  measure  hy  the  balancing 
of  the  new  sail,  she  steadied   down   j'or  the  six-mile  run  with 


less  foam  and  froth  in 


1  a  verv  husiness-like  wav, 


A  starn   chase   is  a    lonu'  clu 


commented  old    Mar- 


eeau,  as  he  recooiuzed  the  advantage  to  the  hoat  of  the  son  of 
liis  dead  enemy. 

"  Why  don't  th(>m  dandy  marines  stick  out  a  lugger,  the 
lubbers,  "  he  continued. 

A  voice  cried  "Shame."  but  it  was  drowned  in  the  loud 
huzzas  as  the  {''ancy  passeil  the  other,  one  of  the  crew  holding- 
out  a  rope  as  if  otfei'ing  a  low. 

The  already  vamiuished  foreigner  ran  up  his  lugsail,  peak 
down,  not  dai'ing  to  set  the  whole  sail,  but  he  was  yet  slow 
and  the  Fancy  had  already  neai'  a  miiuite  the  lead.  In  a  W'W 
minutes  the  contest  was  over  and  ;i  hundred  hands  met  the 
i"'ancy  and  lifted  her  clear  of  the  watei'  high  and  dry  on  the 
beach  the  moment  she  i-(«ache(l  the  shore.  The  stranger  jiicked 
up  his  anchoi',  dipped  his  (Misign,  lired  a  lirass  gun  .Mnd  ac- 
knowledged defeat  in  a  very  naval-like  manner  which  quickly 


ro 


w 


•INI)    ASM)    WKATIIKI!    I'KKM  ITTINd 


(•IT 


atiMl  i\  fci'liim-  ofi\(lniiniti()U  lor  the   crfW 


(Ircssfd    "ui  wliitc 


(liu'k. 


Old  Maivi'iUi  wont  lioim 
Ho  woul 


1  huvo  quickly  rotuniod  had  ho  oUsorvod  u  drip- 


])inj;'  sailor, 


lor   wiio  bad  considerable  resemblance  to  the  tnin 


lookin-  chap  who  went  out  as  the  skipper  f.f  the  Fancy,  watcli 


him  well  away  a 


nd  then  stroll  over 


to  a  vounji'  lady  in  white 


under  a  wide  hat. 

-.lohy,  I'm  j-lad."  siii.l  tlie  white  li^un 
'•  I'm  "lad  vou'r  jilad.  " 


ou  Won 


t  r:ice  aiiain.  will  you 


'•  Onless  1  sec  the  skipper    in 


vou. 


1  didn't, 
lie  did. ' 
( )li  vou  o 


white   <hu'k    talkin'    soft  to 


Id   Jealous;  that    was  j.a's  plasterer,   1  im    i-a- 


lian. 


ow 


N 


Bv   miiL!,- 


htv,    I   dunno  hut    you'r   ri^ 


ht. 


And    thev 


■itrollet 


pi^'  am 
.)ol)V  turne( 


1  down  the  street  to  see   the    wheelbarrow    races,  ^u  ^ 
1  what    the   po.^ters  denominated    .^mailer  sports.      15 


ut 


1  his  face  and  softly  whispere<l  to  himsi 


If 


Uv  the  horn  spoon 


If  I'd  a  kn.)wn    thit   was    I  im  m 


his  plaster  over 


la 


lis.  I'd  a  lost  the  race  sure  as  -uib 


Wars  and  Rumors  of  Wars. 


NapoK'ou   I)()!i:i;)!irtc   .Marccau   ca 


nic    into  tlic 


Idji'  ca  1)111 


just  hel'oro  the  shadow  fell  iipoii  tlic  iioon-iiiark  on  thu  window 
sill.  JIo  sft  a  ])()t  ofhcans  on  the  hearth  from  the  hook  in 
the  firephice,  and  hun^'  in  its  stead  an  eni])ty  rye-and-Indiaii 
kettle,  threw  in  some  serap  lead,  oiled  the  hullet  molds  and 
he^an  eleaninji'  a  ratlun-  l)rij>I it-looking-  fiintdock  made  in  part 
hv  his  own  hands. 


dinner 


is   wife   protested    apiiiist  sueh  rude   intertei 


■eiiee 


with 


"  Bone  Marceau  I  am  sick  of  the   smell   of  v 
you  needn't  go.      I'll  cook  no  more  of  it  in  this  house, 


I'liison. 


"  Cook  it  outdoor  then,  "  res[)onded  Marceau. 
Soon  he  had   run  a  pouch  full  of  l)ullets,  which  he  hur- 
riedly trinuiied.  and  then  ran  a  ].ocket  lialf  full  to  make  sure 
of  a  f,Mi(.d  su[)ply.     Scizin,u-  a  piece  of  smoked  venison  and  the 
half  of  a  corn  meal  cake  which  he  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  linen 

sliuffiny 

I  jijun  at 

oor  s'^'iiR  the  wife  this 


and  shoved  into  a  pocket,  he  picked  uj)  the  musket, 
jtowder  horn  an<l  shot  l.aj--  over  Jiis  neck,  and  witl 
'•  slioulder  arms  "  lie  strode  out  the  d 


admonition  which  contained  the  first  intimat 


ion  of  his  inten- 


tions 


'  Be  kccrful  of  the  liros  and  milk   th 


c  cow  reg'lar.     The 


WAIJS    AND    IMMoliS    Ol"    W'AHS. 


iJritisli  is  <i()iii'  I'ci'  to  try  tn  Inkc  the  Ilfii-hor  miuI  wc  mI'c  ^idn' 
to  show  'ciii  once  iiiofc  how  we  lien  littcii  at  ^iuci'iil  triiiiiin',  '' 
jind  lie  was  oil' to  tlic  wai'  witlioiit  roiiiiincc.  or  jioodhy  t'oniial- 
itirs,  ('\cc|)t  a  (litiiiilictl  military  sahitc  to  liis  wife  at  a  jioiiit 
where  the  path  (lisa|i| (eared  ill  the  woods. 

'rii'  wile  ealie  1  t  •  iiiiii  t;)  "  t;ike  no  risks  and  wateh  out  for 
tlieni  pesky  Ilessiaie  and  hire(|  Iniicns." 

••  Lord  !  '"  slie  exclaimed,  "  war  and  Mood  at  our  very 
do H's.  "  Then  slu-  sat  down  and  cried  over  her  loneliness 
and  the  distress  of  the  e((Uiitry. 

The  next  day  in  the  midst  of  her  s|)iiinin«;'  she  was  star- 
tled hy  the  distant  lioom  of  a  cannon,  then  another  and  an- 
otlier. 

"  The  alarm  uuiis  !  "  she  exclaimed. 

Mrs.  .Marceaii  had  not  seen  the  maiieiivi'rings  of  the  Brit- 
ish fleet  on  the  lake  as  hi'r  hn-liand  liad,  and  the  report  of  the 
alarm  yuiis  was  tiie  iirst  intiniatioii  she  liad  ha<l  of  real  wai'. 
Slipping-  on  a  woolen  shawl  she  ran  a  mile  to  the  neai'est 
neij>Iihor,  Mrs.  Lane.  That  j^ood  woman  was  mounted  on  a 
wa}i,on  lookinji'  soutnward  as  if  si^Jit  would  pierce  the  liills 
and  Woods  and  reveal  the  scene  of  the  hattle.  Her  husl)aii(l. 
too,  had  u'one  at  his  country's  call,  hut  less  ini'ormally  than 
had  Marceau.  Tlu'  two  women  whispered  and  watched  in  tlu' 
direction  of  the  hattle.  A  dense  cloud  of  smoke  liftecl  itself 
slowly  ahove  the  liills  and  treetops  on  tlu'  op])osite  shore,  and 
more  certainly  locateil  the  strui^jile  in  human  hlood.  Tiie 
caiinonadin^'  ceasi'(l  as  suddenly  as  it  heean  and  the  two  wo- 
rn mi  clutched  e.u'h  other's  clothing' as  ea(di  looked  in(|uiringly 
at  the  otiier.  'IMiere  was  a  faint  rattle  of  tlii'  di.schai'ge  of 
small  arms  and  for  a  moment  silence.  Then  the  louder  report 
of  a  musket  reacheil  their  ears. 

"  Bar-r-ny-  I  "  it  sai<l.  if  translated  into  talk. 


WAI 


A  .VI)    l!rMf)|{S    OK    WAItS. 


I  i"c!ir  llicir  powder  is  i-tuic,  "  siid   the  eld,.,-   ,,('  t| 


incii,  ■•Hint  \v;is  ncitlicr  ;i  imiskct    ii(»r 
tlic  Inst  l)i(  of  |)()'-(1(.|-  ijp,.,!  I 


IC    Wei- 


ll   <'!iiiii(iii.  iinli's^  It  Im' 


I'tllll    il    CMllllOll. 


'riint    WHS   iiiv   liiisl)!! 


ih1"s  musket,  ■'  rc|)li(.d    Mrs.   .M,.,,.. 


'•''-■m  positively.      -'Tliiit  W;is  my  ImsliMlid's  -Old    I'tica,  •  iisl 
••■•ills  it,  mid  lie  siiys   it    tiikes  u  l.jdl  i,  third    I 


film  west  (.f  All.iiiiy,  "  she  adde.l  with  n  si 


le 


K'iivier  than  aiiv 


No  si 


low  (it  jtnde. 


<H'|.  eame  to  their  eyes  that    iiiuht    as    tliev    revolv(>(l 


over  a.iid  ovei'  the   jirohaltilitv   of  sii 


(•(•ess 


or  defeat.  Ilopin^^ 
••iii'l  prayiiiu-,  over  and  a^aiii  they  ima-ined  the  e.v;|M.rieiiees  of 
widowhood,  and  fremhled  at  the  least  noise  lest  it  weretl 


l)roach  of  the  iJritisli.      .Mon 


ic  ai)- 


11111^'  came  aiK 


1  witi 


1    It    the  duti 


of  the  day,  hut  work  was  out  of  the  (|uestion.     The  child 
were  kept  indoors.      The  clank  of  oars  cau,uht    their  atfenti 
niid  to  the  slioi'e  they  caiiliouslv  made  tl 


(>s 


reii 
on 


icir  'ivav. 


Thank  (iod  !  we  ai'e  not  widows,  "  forvcntlv  .spoki 


M 


rs. 


ane, 


ha 


A  hoal  was  apj)roacliin,ii-  and  instead  of  Ifessiniis  the  1 
lids  of  the  fri,ulite!ie(l  women  landed 


in.'- 


iirceau's  hand  was  wrapped  in  the  linen  that  had  served 
tlic  purpose  of  a  napkin  when  he  had  hastily  .seized  his  lunch. 


<iot  a  hall  throu-h  my  hand,'"  he  half  apolooized,  ••  I 


if  twan't  pizened  I  shan't  he  hothei'ed  lonn-.      I 
htin-le  .sounded  to  '  cea.se  lirinj.-,  '  hut  1  ni„",,,„  „„(.  ^,,| 


)Ut 


tc.ime  after  tlii' 


Old  I'tica,  '  as  they  pulled  out  t(t  tl 
t  )  make  "em  hail  as  they  lied  to  for  I 
starn. 


ute  Irom 


IC  ship  in  their  boats.  Just 
seen  a  splinter  leave  her 


Vcs, '"  s;iid  the  iieio-hhor,  -you   made   a   hiu^vr  hole  in 


the  hoat  than  they  did  in   your   hand,  J 

'oni  your  venison.  Sargeant,  "  and  he  .saluted  I 

cer,  who  had    received  a  jironiotioii    without    1 


rolled  in  tli 


warn    vou.     Show 


lis  superior  oHj- 
mviiii>-   heeii  en- 


c  service. 


Tl 


le   venison    was   produced  and  a  liok 


74 


\VAi;S    AMI    lilMnKS    ul'    WAIJS. 


11 1  must  cIosihI  wiis  lii'st  cxliihitcd  iiml  llicii  Iui'IkmI  (i>  tlit'(i|i|i(isil(' 
side,  wlicl'c  II  little  of  the  sllhsliilicc  liiid  Ik'CII  cut  ilWiiy  sliow- 
iii,U  the  cud  ufii  |>(tiiitcd  l>iill  wliicli  liiid  loilf^cd  there  wliilc  tlic 
]»iec;'  was  still  in  liis  [iDeket. 

"  'i'oii^li  meat  that,  or  1  wnuldn't  lie  here,  '  coldly  re- 
iiiaiked  .\hirceau,  and  the  woiiicii  sliud(U'red  at  a  reali/.iii;' 
scu'^e  of  the  horroi's  of  war  not  yet  revealed  to  them  hy  the  in- 
jured hand  which  had  not  heen  uncovered. 

In  the  excitement  of  the  return,  a  youu""'  man  drcs.sx'd  in 
a  semi-military  uniform  was  nearly  for^dtten. 

••  IIc!-c  Hill,  "'  suddeidy  called  l,ane.  "  come  U|i  and  ^ct 
ac(|uaiuted  with  the  women.  This  is  my  wonum.  and  this 
Bone's  wife — Lefteiiant  X'auiihan.  who  has  c<ime  hum  with  us 


to  li 


irn  what  the 


Mrit 


isliei's 


do  next. 


esied. 


The  young  man  liowed  low,  saluted,  and  the  ladies  court- 
Yv  don't  look  real  |iert    and   wt'll,  stranger,  "  I'emarkcil 


M 


rs. 


:iiu'. 


( "oino  in  and  sit  hv.      I've  some  wheat  Hour  a 


mi 


I  will  have  some  white  hi.scuits  and  honey.  |)on"t  'pear  tome 
as  you  are  any  great  eater,  anyway.  " 

The  young  hoatsvvain  .said  lie  "  didn't  mind.  "  if  the  men 
were  going  in.  "  IJeutenaut  "  was  a  tith'  facetiously  aj)])lied 
by  Lane  to  make  his  introduction  mor<'  inqiressivc. 

''  You  see,  "  liegan  Lane  as  they  entered  the  house,  "me 
and  Marceau  got  to  the  hari-acks  just  afore  the  Britishers  made 
Horse  lslan<l,  and  the  leftenant  here  wants  to  get  the  lay  ot 
the  land  hei'cabouts.  Bein's  Bone  and  me  si-e  the  redcoats  ]»int- 
in'  that  wav  when  we  ware  .scoutin  on  our  own  hook" 


ivast. 


lie  re 


!rf)wlcd     Marceau, 


vou  r 


losm    ver 


l)C'aiin"s  agin,  neighbor.  The  leftenant  is  a.  great  angler  and 
bein'  a  little  otien  his  feed  he's  about  to  take  [iot  luck  with  us 
and  recooporate  by  way  of  hmitiu'  'n  tishin',  " 


\VAi;s  AM)   i;iM(»ii 


S     Ol'     WAIJS. 


/-» 


"AikI   if    tliat    (l(.||"t    Ii(.||,    yell    jest    liv    lihr.liir,  •"  jkLIcI 

Laiif  Willi  II  \viiii<  tliat  rmi  IV the  ,.(,nls  of  liis  lu-ck  U|.  into 

Ills  scfilp.      It  was  a  sly  dii-at   Manvaii  wlm  needlessly  siillere.l 
shame  al  reeeivinii-  a  wonml. 

•  lU'tler  try  a  ste..|,in'  of  plantain    leaves  and   snake-mot 


I'll 


si.     tUMKlly  put  in  Mrs.  Mareeati  al  a  pause. 

Lords  ofcivation  I     in    tlie   interest   ol'  tnul 
•stated  that  the  two  settlers  had 


I    it    nnist  l)(> 


icen   sniiiooiin^'  pot  and  pearl 


Mshes  nito  Canada  when  they    learned  of  the    appi'(.aeli  of  tl 
British  fleet.  lon,o-  hefore  the  al 


irni   eniis  were  sounde(l. 


.\n<l  the 


sickly    lieutenant  I      He    was   soui 


id    as  a  i>ullet, 


imd  had  heen  sent  out  as  a  seoul  to  nronnoiter  the  lake  shon 
iind  find  the  enemy's  vanta.iic  p(»ints  on  the  St.  Lawrence  F{iv- 
er.  He  was  an  acknowledged  marksman  with  the  fowling' 
pi<'ce.  or  a  •J4-poun<ler  from  the  deck  of  the  fla,uship.  He  was 
;i  studious  sailoi'.  too,  not  content  with  shvrin.ti-  liis  trick,  he 
passed  his  watch  helow  studyiny- some  old  piints  on  tl 
of  naviiiatioii. 


le  science 


N'auohan  passe<l  many  days  coaslin,u'  the    shores  l)et 


Ween 


(iravelly  Point   and    Stony   Point,  searchiini'  out  harhors  and 


dioah 


wa 


telling  for  the  enemy,  and    ri'portin.u'   I 


presence  at  the  Ifiver  into  whi(di  he  vent 


lis  occasional 
ui'eil   a    i'vw  times,  al- 


wa 


ys  ui  company  with  his  new-found    friends.  Lane  and  Mar- 


ceau. 


When  he  returned  to  the  j.osl  at  Sackets  Harhor,  ( leiieral 
Wilkinson  had  superceded  (ieneral  Brown  and  was  formula- 
tin,!^-  a  plan  to  descend  the  i{iver  with  an  ovei'whelmin.u'  force 
and  capture  .Montreal.  To  this  plan  N'au.olian.  who  had  l)een 
promoted  to  sailin,u-mastcr,  made  stivnuous  ol.jections  wlien 
he  was  called  into  tlie  confeiH'iu'e. 


The  o}licers  slu<lied  a  rude  map  which  X'aiiuhan  had  1 


uis- 


fO 


WARS    AND    HiMoliS    tiF    WAI! 


tily  drawn  iVoin  ii   kiiowlcdii'c  uaiiicd    wlulc  scdiiliii^-  on    flic 
lake  sIkh'c. 

"  What  VdU  liavc  Iktu  afcustdUicil  lo  call  an  island, 
here,  ""  cxplainc*!  tlic  scont.  "  is  I'cally  a  |icninsnla  (•(inncctcd 
with  the  main  slioic  hy  a  strip  of  land  aliont  ten  yards  wide. 
1  puUcil  niy  l>oat  across  it  oftrn  -nd  found  a  most  excellent 
liarhov  inside.  Outside  in  the  lake  lies  an  island  well  toward 
(iravelly  Point,  which  contains  a  line  hai'hoi'  almost  land- 
locked. Its  torm  is  that  of  a  basin  and  we  have  named  it 
Hasin  Ilarhor.  That  point  would  make  a  vei^'  desirahle  ren- 
dezvous t'oi'  the  e.\|iedition  lo  Montreal,  if  that  is  the  campaign 
U])on  whii'h  you  are  determined.  The  liarhor  can  he  reached 
from  the  east  side  in  small  hoats.  hut  not  hy  those  of  deep 
draft.  Tlie  a]»]>i'oach  tVom  the  lake  side  is  danu'ci'ous  for  thos(> 
unac(|Uainte(l  v.ith  these  waters.  ( )ne  mu-l  hnii'  the  north 
shore  close  to  lind  a  deep  channel  leading'  ri^lit  iiito  the  liar- 
hor.     Not  far  out  lie  treachei'ous  mckv   Icdii-es,  hut   once  clear 


of  these  shoals  the  harhor  will  in'otect  the  wl 


lole  ne( 


Our  (leet  was  ii<seinhle(l  ;it  Oivn'ulier  Island  on  the  27th. 
at  least  sueh  of  our  hoats  as  survived  a  liale  which  set  in  dur- 
in«i- the  iiiu'ht       ( )f  this  expedition  hr.  Ihinuh  wrote: 

At  this  late  seascai  ofthey<>ii'.  when  with  noother  eneni v 
hut  the  weather,  it  Would  seem  the  extremity  of  folly  to  at- 
tempt the  navipilion  of  ihe  lake  in  open  hoats.  fidiii  the  peiil 
arisiuii'  from  sudden  tcmpc-is.  it  was  decided  in  p;i>s  theeiH- 
my's  llci't  and  army,  and  descend  upon  .Monti'eal.  allowing' the 
enemy  the  privileiic  of  attackinL;  on  hi>  uwn  teri'ilorx'  in  hnth 
IVoiil  ;iiiil  real',  with  an  inliniaJc  knowhdLic  of  ihc  counlr\' 
and  its  re>oui'ee>.  and  e\ci'y  ,id\  :inI;iL;e  llial  a  >killl'nl  inm- 
mander  could  have  desireil.  had  Hie  >e|((ii(in  of  ciicnmstancM  s 
heeii  left  to  him.      \'ie\\ 


ei|    in  11-   oroocr   lii. 


ihe  expedition 


piay  1)0  justly  cuusidered   an   ouira,L;('    u[ion    ici.Mni    and  eoiih 


WAliS    AMI     l;lM()i;s    dl'    W  A  IIS.  ,  , 

iiKiii  -ciisc.  iiiid  justly  ciitillcil    to    tlif    niliuiii  wliidi    li;i-.   Iticii 
iltt;ic|ir(|     III  it. 

On  ilic  "JCitli  (if  ( )c|iil)i'i'.  jit  iMiiiii.  (inlci--  were  i^-iicil  Inr 
llic  lii'iivv,  liiilit  iiud  llyiiiL;  ai'tillci-y.  i(itiiiiiiiiii|iil  l>y  <  ■niniicis 
I'mlcr.  ICustis  jiinl  .Muciniili,  jiml  the  t'lmrlli  \>v\[i:i>\<\  lum- 
iiijiiiliii  Iiy  l>riLi,i(lici'-(  M'lici'iil  Swai'twuiit.  <it'  tli<-  intiiutiy.  tu 
iiiili;irl<.  Mini  |if(MM'ci|  iiiiiiicdialcly  tu  IwL-iii  llai-li'ij.  jn  (ii-ciui- 
<\\<-v  Isliiiid.  At  six  |(.  111.  tlic  wlidlc  ciiiliiirkid.  and  |iin  nil'  w  iili 
a  la V'lialilc  wind,  tlic  li'aiis|i(ifN  iiKislly  cciii^i-tinir  nf  -(■(.\\>. 
|)iii'liaiii  liiials,  (•(iinnioii  lake  sail  Imal-.  anil  lialfaii.x.  funtain- 
iii^'  licsidcs  nliinis  and  suldicis,  oi-diiaiicr.  ainiiiuiiitiun.  liii>|ii- 
tal  stdiTs.  liaiiuaur.  and  twn  niuiillis"  provisions  for  the  troops. 
All  inipaidoiialilr  iiciiliuriicc  \va>  cviiircd  dnriiiii  tln-caiid  tli" 


tiilliiwinL:-  niiivciiii'iits,  in  llic  cn-todv  an 


I  .safe    kii-jiiiii;  of  lli 


>npplic>.  iiniin'iisc    i|nanlili"<   of  wliirli    wiic    nltiinalily  lo-t 


Tlirii'  was  a  dcli(i(iic\    if  (■.xpci'irncii!  pilots,  and  tlic  in 


(1 


in  till'  lioaN  wcri'  nioslly  nnarrn^loinril  In  tln'ir    inanaui'inrnt 
citlirr  111    i:iioi|    or   iiad    woallirr.    and    partii-iilai'ly    in    a    dark 
niii'lit.  and.  in  passiiiL;'  poiuN  of   land    wlicro   ilifv    \\cr«-    nnar- 
i|iiaiiilid  willi   llir   soiindiiiLis   and    currents,  and    al    a    -cn-im 
wlicii  -uddcii  and   violent  tciiiiicsts  arc  lialilc  lo    .-iri-c    witlioiit 


warm  Hi: . 


T 


ic  Willi!  and    weather    laverci 


I    until    one   (("clock  a.  n 


wlidl     Hie     oil. 


lis  appeared  to  lie  iniicli  ~c,ittered  :  .^unie  had 
aiided  (111  I'illar  I'oiiil.  and  I'oiiit  l'eniii--ula  :  -dine  had  eii- 
iVfi\  •■|iauiiiniil    l>ay.  and  oilier  iiilel<;  oilier-    hail    laialed  oii 

illlel-    -1 1     dtr    fdl- 


<  herrw    Sldji V    ai 


|i|       lli>r-e      l-lMlKl-.     .■UK  I      I 


i\  III 


'-lull,    wliele   iiHe    I  ii  la  I  .    Willi    all    otiicer   ;|||i|    Idl    lllcll.   i- 


aii| 


td    lia\c    ;iiii\ed    in    >afel\.       Sc\cr,d    lid.ii-    |-iii(led    dii     LmiL; 


and.    in     l)rili>ii    lerrildr\-,    and    -oine   -aldv    rea(  lic(l    ilieir 


iji  -lllialldii     :) 


I     Ita-in    llarlidr.        \|    Icdt'   iia-t    iwi.    tlic    wind 


d.ifl 


eil  IK  arlv  ahead,  and   liieWire.-h  irdin    the    lake,  ov  whie 


\VAl;s    AND    IMMoKs    OI'    WAIIS. 


iiijtiiy  Ixijits  u'lil  ill  the  real,  iiiid  tliscovcriii^  lij^lits  (Hi  tlio 
slidiT.  iittt'iii|)tc(l  tt)  iViU'li  tliciii.  ill  which  smuc  siiccccih'd.  It 
soon  hctriiii  tn  rain,  jukI  thi'  wind  iiicrcascd  tn  a  uah'.  in  which 
the  Itoat^  and  scows  which  liad  hin(h'(h  wcnMlriftcd  and  hcatcii 
(111  the  sliuic,  wliich  in  sdiiic  phiccs  was  i'(iUij,'h  and  rocky, 
whih'  (ithci>.  still  1111  the  lake,  made  the  hrst  point  of  land 
thcv  couM  disciivcr  tu  save  ihcinsclvcs.  The  iiioniinii-  dis- 
<'l()se(l  a  scene  (if  de-olation  truly  distressing'.  'I'he  shores  ( if 
the  islamls  and  main  land  were  strewn  with  hrokeii  and 
sunken  iioats.  and  the  day  was  spent  in  tniioadiii.u'  such  as 
<'(iuld  lie  reachi'd,  and  in  endeavorinu'  to  save  such  perishable 
arti(des  as  cnuld  he  t'ouiid.  the  ^ale  coiitinuiiiij,'  through  that 
day  and  tiie  lollowinu- iiiuht.  <  )n  tie  isth,  the  wind  liaviii,!,- 
ahated.  sever.:!  hoats  were  iidf  oil' from  the  rocks,  and  ai'rive(l 
at  liasiii  llarhor.  Inn  on  the  ne.\t  day  the  storm  increased,  iiiid 
several  hoats  th;:l  had  atleiiipt  'd  to  };aiii  their  rendezvous, 
were  driven  hack  upon  the  shores,  (hi  the  2<ltli  the  day  was 
fiivorahle.  and  many  of  the  sound  hoats  reacdied  Uasiii  llarhor. 
The  hriuades  of  (leiierals  Ih'own.  i!'iyd  and  ( 'oviniiton 
whieh  had  encamped  at  lieiiderson  liaioor.  arrived  at  (Jrena- 
di<  r  Nhuid  on  the  -Jdlh.  (  >l  t  he  llotilla  that  lia<l  left  Sack ets 
iiarho)-.  liftieii  laruc  hoats  were  entii'cly  lost,  many  othei's, 
with  several  >eow-  were  much  damaL^cd,  r.nd  a  lai;uc  (|uantity 


if  hread  was  de-t 


I  iiveil. 


he    iroop>    remained   encamped  on 


the  i.-land  until  tln' 


liiM    ol    N 


oxcmlir,  eiiua^eu    in    repau'in 


the  hoats  and   makiiiL;    preparations    to   descend    the   St,  Law- 
rence.    The  Weather  niejinwhile   continued    stcrmv.  and  snow 


fell    to  ll 


le  depth   (i|     tell    lin-h( 


M; 


lllV    ot     the    reuuhirs    Wi-Vi' 


froi 


II   the  -iiUllieMi  >Iates.  ;ili(l     lU  iaecU>!omed    to    the  seVel'ltv  of 


a  northern  winter,  and  in  thi:  expedition,  especiallv  at  a  la.  'r 
p;'riod,  su tiered  ext  reme|\   iVoiii  tlir  ri^or  of  the  cliniale.  v\  liicli 


l>v 


(jduced  a  friuhtful  nioiialil\ 


iii.iiil:  tlieiii 


\V.\l!S    .\N'1>    KIMOKS    (iK    WAl 


On     lllc     -JSlli,    I'.Kl  ,,f    tl 


ic   >ick    wci'c   iiut    on    liiiaril    of  n 


sclioiincr  aiiil  sent  (o  Sackd--  llarliMi-.       Wilkinson   ari'ivcd  on 
the  •27tli.  and  iindin^  a  kai'^^c  lively  >!ill    in    the    rear,    wricked 

\vv  a  sii|)[ily  ol' 


o  r>ai-k('ls    1  lariiur   in   oi'i 


01'  stranded.  I'ctui'ncd  i 
winter  clolliinu- and  sliocs.  for  llic  iroops  on  llic  i-hind,  sonic 
oi' wlioin  were  nearly  doiitulc.  lie  oli>er\id  luaiiy  lires  (if 
troops  alonu,'  tlie  shore.  ImiI  the  wind  was  so  violent  thai  he 
cDiild  not  eonununicate  with  theiii.  <  )n  the  lilid.  ( 'olonel  Cole 
arrivecl  with  "Jdll  men,  of  the  rjtii  reeiiiieiit.  and  saileil  for  the 
rendezvous,  and  the  (Ji'owler  wa>  sent  to  ( iswe^i'  lor  Coloncds 
Handolpli  and  Scott,  who  were  c\|iected  there,  and  as  many 
men  as  the  vessel  couM  carry,  'i'lie  ucneral  returned  the  same 
day  to  (irenailier  Island  and  arrived  oil'  the  island  at  eiuht  in 
th"  evciiinii-.  the  weath"r  coiitiiniiiii:'  hoi-terons  diu'inn'  this 
nijilit  and  the  day  followiim,  with  fre(|nenl  rains  and  heavy 
uales,  so  that  a  landinu'  could  not  he  ejlected  until  the  "Jotli. 

In  the  intervals  of  the  i;al".  oiiiioi-tunitit"^  wcvr  wat(die(l 
to  slip  deti(dimcnts  of  hdats  into  tin  ."-^t.  Lawrence,  hut  so 
trea(di<'rous  were  the  lulls  of   the  teinpest,  that    urcat  |peri[  was 


encountered  ni  nassinii    from 


•  irenailier    Inland    to  ( 'ape  \'in- 


ceiit,    a    distance  of    idiie    miles.      .Manv    I  m,ii~    were    driven 


asliore  and  much  nrovisions  and  clotlnni:  were   lo 


St.       (iellcl'al 


Brown  was  ordeicil  t 


o    ta !<(■  com 


mand  of  the  advance  and  post 


himself  at  l'"i'ench  ( 'reck,  where  the  ilet  nhm  'Ut-  were  ordereil 
to  I'enilc/vous,  The  ( irowler  alii  ved  at  (ireiiadicr  lslan<l  on 
the  olst.  with  ■-'■Jit  men  ol'  the  -JHih  r(  uiiucnl.  and  on  the  2d  of 
No  vend  pel-,  ( 'hainiccy  tiok  a  po-ition  in  prntcct  the  -out  h  chan- 
nel, where  it   was  appreheinled  thceiiciny  would    enter  and  oc- 

iiH,   repairs,    would    have 


cupv    I'o 


It    ( 'ai'lcton 


Wlllcll,      WItll     -o 


'I 
•tl'cctnallv     coiumaiideil     that    idianiiel.    and     compelh'd    the 


.\ 


meriean  arni\'  to  winter  on  Lake  <  >iilaiio,  or  run   the  uaini 


.f  I 


I  t  under  the  (ialteric<  ol   l\ih,i;-ton.      Iciiiap-nn   pouit  on  tiie 


so 


WAKS    ANl)    lil'MoliS   ()!■    WAI 


i'i\('i'  is  s(i  atliiiiriiMy  ndiiplcd  \'i>v  a  luilitary  post,  as  the  licad 
III' ( 'arlctdii  Islaiiil.  and  it  has  Ikcii  justly  called  tlic  ( iiliraltcr 
of  this  passaiic 

Si)  iiiiich  I'oi'  pnisy  hislnry.  (iciici'al  ilrownV  llrcl  was 
|iilolcil  tVoiii  ( ii'ciiadiri'  Ishiiid  lo  T'l'iiich  ( 'ni'k  hy  l-auc  .Nhir- 
rcaii  and  (iiowi  ('apt  lin  \'aui:haii.  though  the  hitler  liad  heeii 
so  far  ill  the  IJiver  mi  hnt  our  oecasiun,  and  thai  in  ihe  niylit. 
.\<  ihey  passrd  I'arlhlt's  I'uiiil  the  general  saw  in  that  prom- 
oiilory  the  ad\aiila.iie  of  |)ositinii.  and  a  hallery  of  three  ei^h- 
teen-|ioniiders  was  handed.  di-a\\n  up  the  hilh  and  hit  in  eoiii- 
iiiand  of  ( 'apt.iin  .Nh-I'hersoii.  ('aptaiii  \'aiiL:han  was  ditaih'd 
as  expert  iiiiiiner.  and  the  eoniphnient  lo  his  iiiarksinanship 
ph'ased  him  iiioic  llian  wmihl  a  pioiiiolioii  to  eoinniodore  ol 
the  Heel.  llis  old  friends,  tlie  sinuiiulers.  pihited  thelhel  inlii 
the  hay  at  the  iiioiilh  of  l'"reiieh  ('reek.  |ia>t  Indian  roiiil. 
wh'Te  the  West  end  of  the  hrid^'e  rests  today,  and  up  tlie  ■•ti'eaiii 
In  a  ]io;nt  siiilahh'  \'nv  a  iMiiip  of  seven  thousand  leii.  Tlie 
place  mice  called  W'ilk insmi's  I'uiiit,  is  heller  known  as  the 
i  Inhhard  I  louse  fariii. 


.V  sharp  lool 


Ko 


111  was  kepi  iiiiihl  and  (lav  at  I'arllett  I'oiiil. 


now  rrospect  rai,<.  inasmuch  as  it  was  known  that  Ihe  enemy 
wa>  lurkiiiLf  amn.iu-  these  'Phmisand  l<laiids.  and  his  presence 
miuht  not  he  di~r,i\-cied  until  he  had  reached  an    uncmiil'oita- 


lile  iirnxiniil  \' 


Me    twii    jiiliils   c(ia<tci|    aoout    in    caiinesac- 


uaintiiii:'    lheni-el\(-   il 


t'    r   with    the    inlrieacics   of  the 


channels.  Iiil;-  and  I  iiile.  ilccp  and  -hallow,  narmw  and  wide. 
I'" roll!  the  li.iilrry  a  wide  -weep  df  \i>i(in  wa*  had  up.uid 
dnwn  tllr  Uiver.  The  \ieW  d  I  I'ect  ly  acro'^s  wa-  lillliled  hy  'he 
ihiise  Liriiwth  (if  111-,  halsaiii-.  piiie<  ainl  hemlocks  which  in 
place- appe;ire(l  rnoled  in  tin-  very  i;ranite   fmindatidii-.      < 'ap- 


laiii   \'anL;i 


ian,<eale(l  upon   his  yuii.  drank    in    tic    heautic<of 


the  <ccne  with  iiiiire  than  the  aiiiireciatioii   (  f  an  di'dinarv   sn|- 


■p** 


WAKS    AND    KIMOKS    Ol'    WAR 


81 


ic  lire  red  iiiaiiic 


riiiT.  Ivirly  iVosi-  Imil  liiitc(l  tlir  Iciivcs.  niid  tl 
backed  by  tlir  vniicd  sluidcs  dI'  oi'ccu  and  yi'ay  yavc  back  a 
shai'i)  rcHi'i'tidii  in  tlic  >till  antinmi  ilay.  I'"i'(iin  liis  tdcvatcd 
position  tbc  obsciAcr  fell  l<i  mitin^  llic  apiiai'dit  I'ciiularity 
witli  whicli  tbc  dead  ]iincs  wci'c  stationed  bkc  so  nniny  silent 
st'iitinels.  an  cllcct  tbc  more  stiikinLi'.  tiie  Liicalcr  tlie  (bstance. 

Was  tliat  tlie  wine-   of  a    Imec    iiiid  in  a  dcjid  tamarack  '! 

('aptain  N'anu'lian,  stancbnii  np.  broUiibt  a  lont;-  spyglass 
into  ran^i'  and  iza/.ed  intently  a!  a  tall  tice  widcb  had  lieen 
bhistecl  by  li^btninu-.  Tlie  air  was  not  in  motion,  yet  lie  dis. 
tiiictly  saw  the  Ihitterine- as  ol"  a  iiau' in  the  bi'ee/.c.  a  lull  league 
down  strt'am.  Ibistily  ilispattdiinji'  a  mcsxnuci'  for  the  ])ilots 
lie  loted  the  appearance  and  disappcar:in<'e  of  the  phenomenal 
siiiiial  which  ."s'atnre  in  hei  tVeakiest  niooil  could  not  simu- 
late. 

The  pilots  ari'ived  from  the  camp  at  Wilkinson's  I'oint 
and  wei'e  .saluted  in  an  unconcerned  mannci'.  and  then  drawn 
back  upon  a  knoll  a  little  apait  fr<im  the  yun  erews. 

'The  captain  pointed  noi'tbei'ly  toward  the  ilenil  tree  whicdi 
towi'reil  above  tln'  oaks  and    maple<. 

'•  Now,  watch.  " 

.V  white  llaii'  was  waved  from  horizon  to  horizon,  and  in 
the  blaze  of  sunlieht  its  outline  hecame  \'ery  di'-tincl. 

"  <  )ue,  two.  three.  "  cnuuteil  the  captain,  and  ;;ftei'  a  |iause 
the  siti'uallinjj,'  was  resumed.  'Ihi-  time  the  observer^  c(aintid 
two.  then,  after  anothei-  pau:-e.  one. 

'idle  ea/,.  (if  the  pildt,-   i.   |  in  a  ha  lf-(piizzieal   expression. 

••('ap'n.    we'v    ~een    that    kind   of   lluttei-in'    Ik  fore,    eh' 


Marceau,  when  we  cnoM'd  witi 


I  the  la>l    load    ol    iHita-li 


•' Shet  up.   Lane!      i  )o  you  want  the  hull  i-e-,eiuie  o^silers 
arter  yer  on  Worthy  >k  in '.'     The   liber  up   ;i    tiee"-   i^ot  a  ]>ard- 


ni 


\\  ( 'ap'n.      Want  1 


o  -ee  mm 


Ih  II  iiroiniM-  me  an-l  l.auc 


WAIts    AVK    ItrNfons   oi'    WAl; 


;i  |)riiiii(iti(iii  In  adiiiiriils  (pf  this  licet  mid  I'll    ~li<)\v    ymi  tuili 


el' 


nllc.   hcsulc; 


••  Ndusciisc.  lucii.  "  iuti'i'rii|il('(l  tlic  (Miitaiii.  "  il'  ynu  know 
iiivtliiuu  iiioi'i'  of  this  liuttcriiii;-    Imsiiicss   than    I    can    .uucss. 


)nt  with  it  Inr  this  is  no  time 


tor  s|io!'l. 


lvi<iht  yon  are."'  saiil  Lane,  and    he   s\vc|it  the  npsti-eani 


■iliore  witii  liis  hand  as  Marcean   lironi:] 


Ills   i^a/c  to  a  -tand 


<\\\ 


There's  his   jiardiiei',  "  said    the   | 


illol 


a    siLinal    wa- 


.ore 


waved  from  another  treetop  on  the  ('aiiadian 

"  'Bont  six  mild  apart  in  these  rathoje-,  (a  >'ii.       Lots  on 
'em  iietwecn  Kingston  and  Windmill  Lint. '" 


Yes,  •■olfercd    L 


iiie.  "the   smuuulci's   nscd    to    think  tin 


customs  house  oftieers  elindicil  ti'ccs  to    warn    IIh'   a|i|ir 
Yankee  potash  peddlers. 

■  Well--- 


oacli  oi 


W 


it  means  t her  s  a  liunooat  (M'  two.  or  niavhe  a  Lrii 


or 


two  or  three  scliooiiers  lietwixt    them 


air   treetoiis.  sir.  am 


if  yon  want  the  feller  in  the  tree  just  ^^ivc  the  order.       .M 
Lane'll  hriii^  him  I  " 


e  an 


••  -^'es — no.  ■■  I 


csponded  the  captain,  still  walcliiiiii  for 


rea|)peai'aiicc  of  the  siL^iuils.      ■•  It  may  he  we  can  read  as  well 
as  they,  after  wr  ham. 

The  pilots  disaiii'ced  as  to  the  exact  location  of  the  tree 
lii'st  ol>ser\cd  Ly  ('aptun  \  aiiLihan.  and  al'ler  olitainiiiL;  p(  r- 
missi.-Ti.  paddled  olf  with  the  current  to  make  a  idoser  inspec- 
tion of  the  localit  \-.      Aficr  uoini;  ;i  mile  or   more    thev  located 


the  tree  more  accnratclw  and  then    reiiieiiioeii  d  that  mar  it 


pali-ade  ojiciied    into   a    lar^c    hay    of  -hallow     water.       V 
jiaiisailes  would  ser<'en  a  tall  nia-t  fr<ini  any  hnl  an  npeii 
at  eaeli  end  of  the  channel. 


le>e 


\leW 


SVAliS    AND    Ur.MOliS      i|'    WAIJS. 


Su(l<l('iil_v    .Miirct'iiu    tiiuclifil    l-iiiic  (111    the    slioiildcr    iiml 
liiitcd  sifiiiiliciiiitly  lo  the  main  clmiiiicl  tn  the  iiortliwai'il. 
I'xitli  paddles  rotid   in  the  water. 

A  lirii:  llyini:'  the  Urilisli  jack  lay  iikkh'cmI  to  a  preeipitous 
.1    I 


clill'  wliitliel'  -lie  liail    lieell     liellijessl  V    eari'ied     liV     tile    curi'eilt 


when  the  Wind  uave  i»u 
he    seen    some    masts. 


ei'inu  ahiive  a  low  island  eo 


nhl 


t.      'I'ow 

A    sinall    hoat.    approaeliinu    the  hri^i'. 
seemed   lillerl   with  soldieis. 

The  pilots  Were  lor  the  liioliielit  sei/ed  with  the  "lever.  '" 
'riieir  lii-st  move  was  to  turn  ahiiut  and  paddle  hack  under  the 
tVieiidly  shadow  of  an  island,  and  then  e.xcdiaii.uiiiii-  ideas  by  a 
mere  glance,  they  set  tliiir  paddles  deep  and  shot  the  eanoe 
hack  toward  the  I'eiide/vous  with  loii^.  ra[iii'  trokes.  .\t  the 
shore  they  parleil.  l-aiie  to  report  to  (leneral  Wilkinson,  the 
oilier  to  ( 'aplain  N'aunhan. 

'riie  latter  met  .Mareeau  in  the  luiish  I'or    he  had  seen  the 


pilots  retuniini;  and    su.-p( 


eteil     'lie    el'.eliiv  s    presence 


After 


reeeiviii<i'  the  news  he  walked  hack   to  his  mm.  whiidi  he  patted 


iU'eetioiiatidv    alter   ear 


el'ullv    no 


liiiL;-    that    evervthii 


\iX   was   ill 


reaiiiiie: 


This  e.\p(  (litioii  is  a  tool  joo.  Mareeau.  "'  he  halt'  iiui.- 


;e(l 


'■  for  here  are  we  with  the  enemy  in  tVoiit.  in  the  rear  and  on 
the  llaiik.  This  i^  defending:  our  country  imt  not  saviiiii'  it  as 
I  look  at  it.  ■' 

husi- 


lat  as  It  ma  v.      ixMuied    t  lie   otiier 


ler  II   In 


liess  ol 


I5e  1 

I  tlii-  liill  liefore  another  sun  sets  if  the  wind  Mowsanv- 


think  >liorl  ol  a  hurricane 

.\    siLihillli,-    ill     the    pii 


ie>    sni;.iic>leil    wind,    lail    as    v 


th 


el   tin 


water  ha!   not  heeii  di^tiirhi'd,        'I'lie  ukis<v  surface  i;ave  1 


lac 


a  smiliii"'  relh'clioii  <i 


Nature's  face,  and  hirds  in  their  lliojit 
diot  downward  at  their  own  shadow-^  cxpeclinu  to  make  the 
ici|Uaiiitaiice  of  another  of  their  kind. 


T 


S4 


\V.\1!S    AND    lil'MoliS    OK    WAI'vS. 


■•  AiKitlicr  uiulil-hrcczi'  iVmii  llic  iinrtli.  ""  sn^ficstcd  Mni'- 
ccaii,  who  liiiil  IxTii  WiitcliiiiL;-  the  iiioviiin'  liranclics.  •• 'I'lic 
l)i'i<:'  will  iii;il<('  our  iici|iiiiiiit;iiic('  iirlorc  iiuiiiy  limii's.  cli  !  ciip- 
taiiiV  ■' 

Tlic  (•;i|il;iili  dill  not  lice;!.  lie  Wiis  s\vc('|)iiin-  (lie  hav,  tlic 
short'  and  the  islands  willi  his  ^lass  and  makin.u'  menial  cal- 
culalions.  The  haltcrv  was  masked  iichind  sunic  fallen  trees 
and  a  .y  >  >  I  h"i'i-^tw  irl<  of  loii-.  'i'h'  envniy  undouhledlv  had 
ini'ormati  >n  nf  the  enneentration  ot  the  ti'oo|)s  in  l-'reneh  ( 'reek, 
hut  tliev  wiiuld  seek  in  vain  I'nr  the  hattery.  even  if  they  sus- 
pected its  |ii'eseiiee  nn  the  |)rom(iutoiv. 

The  northerly  hree/.e  slilleiied  and  oii(>  al'tef  another  ol" 
the  heautil'ul  relleetioiis  wei'e  erased  h'oni  the  I'aee  of  the  waters 
as  a  frown  swept  over  them  with  the  inereasinii'  ri])ple.  l''led 
like  a  smile  from  a  happy  face  was  ihe  enehanted  isles  whi(di 
a  moment  hefnfi'  had  iieen  suspendeil  t fees  (hiwnwai'd  in  a 
heautiful  ndrror  set  in  a  frame  of  i^iieiss.  or  forminf^'  a  rich 
fringe  as  from  a  heantifn.i  garment.  The  hoi'ror  of  war  was 
spreading,'  over  all  the  landscape  as  occasional  (dnuds  ohseured 
the  sun. 

Was  Vdudei'  ship  jj,rowin<i'  out  of  the  I'ocks,  eonnn^'  up  out 
of  the  deep,  ol'  gracefully  aliiihtinji-  IVom  an  aerial  lli«iht  ?  An- 
othi'r  and  yet  another  sti'iind  tn  launch  h'oni  the  mass  of 
^reeti  and  ,nold  leaves  inln  whii-h  the  descending'  sun  shot  iiis 
hri<ihtest  rays  as  a  heacon  l''_;ht  rt'Vi'als  an  othei'wisi'  hidden 
danger. 

X'auii'han  warned  the  sentinel,  he  ^ave  the  alaini,  messen- 
ii'ei's  wci'e  dispatched  to  <  M'Uei'al  W  ilkinson's  camp,  and  then 
the  drums  soumled  the  hmL;  loll.  Seemiiiiily  out  of  the  rocky 
walls  the  licet  of  the  enemy  came  in  a  lii^ht  hree/.e.  TwohrifiS, 
two  sehoonei's,  ami  sevt'ral  smalh  r  hoats  loaded  with  infantry, 
he  numhered.      The  pilots  wei'e   evidently   unac(piainled   with 


WAiis  ANi>  i;r.\rni!s  oi'  waus.  8* 

llir  WMtois  tlicy  uciv  iiiivi.L;;iliii,u'.     A  hriii  led    tlic    (led  mihI  it 
\V!is  cvi.Iriil  llial   il   \\;is  III,,  pni'poc    n.    u,,    iiitu    tlic    inoulli  of 

the  creek  ,ii|(|  -ive  the  A  liieHcn  us  1,;||||, slioiv,  aiid    uikI.t 

llle  |if(itecli(i|i   of  ill,.  ii;i\-;il   '^[l\\<. 

rliMivoiil  lires  were  lin||t,.,|  ni  ih,.  halterv,  ami  wiivs  weiv 
kept  ii..|  \\>y  rn^jiiu'  ij,,.  |M.\\<ler  wliicli  \va<  put  int..  tlie  imi/.zle 
oftlie  oi,,,s  in  |,,|^s.  Caplaiii  ^■all,-llall  had  made  his  re)Mita- 
tKMi  at  Sackel-^  llai'l...r  when  he  elleeliiall.v  captained  a  Ihirtv- 
t\V(.  poiiii.ler  loaded  with  l\\ cnty-idurs.  the  deli. •ieiiey  made  lip 
I'V  wappiiin  eai'pets  anaiiid  llie  halls.  lie  was  deteniiiiied 
tlial  111.,  set  .>fsiiii  sh.aild  II. .t  s..,.  tj,,.  hisl.T  ..f  his  prmvess 
''iii'i'i.'d  ..II  this  ...•easioii.  'I'h..  Ileet  appr.iaeh...!  Hii'tl..ti  Point 
iin.l  as  ih..  lar.e.'sl  hiin  h..^,.,,,  ),,  ware  ..11'  Captain  Mcl'hei'soii 
.tiave  the  oi'.ler  to -ivi.  haul.— Captain  \'annlian  to  liiv  liist. 
II<'  wait. ..I  until  (h,.  masts  app.'are.l  as  on.,  and  oave  the  w..nl 
<"  ''i^  'I'ii'''  I"  liiv.  .Maiv.'aii  ahvady  ha. I  the  red  hot  wire  in 
''i'lid  and  at  Ih.'  wor.l  I'an  il  d.)\vii  th..  venl. 

'I'll.,  uun  spoke. 

The  c..mniander.  watehinu'  fhr.iuuh  the  ylass.  .saw  all 
three  >h..ts  fall  sli.irt  of  the  mark. 

Th..  iuvad..rs  wer.'  evidently  surpiis..]    at   a   salute  (Voni 
that  .piaiter.  lor  Ih..    I.rie-   lulle.l    as    il'  JK.r   mast,.r   wished    to 
make  a  cl.is.'r  ae.piaintane...  and  lh..n    ji.iur.  I   out  a  itroadsidc 
'1'  'I"'  'li'l-      'rin-ii' aim  was  ha.l    ami    th..  halls    wliistle.l  hij.h 
over  the  halteiy,  wliil..  th..  otherwise  s;l..nt    woo.ls   m..ekini:'x- 
eclio(.d  and  r.-ecli....l  the  r.,ar.    I5y  this  tim.. Captain  X'auuhan 
was  a.uain  rea.ly  I'or  anolh.'r  shot.       As  liet'.H',.,  h..  lonk  eai't.ful 
aim  ami  when  ih.' sniok..  .'leare.l  away  he  ha. I  the  p.ior  con.^'o- 
latioii  .if.-e.'iiiu'  ih..  hi'iu's  sails  l.)i'n  and  the   ri,e.i:iiio-  .■videiillv 
cut.      The  other  ^unn.'rs  now  paid  th.^ir  resjx.ets  to  the  sec.md 
\>n>^  and  ihe  s.'liooiiers.      Tli.'\-  sh.it  awa\-  som..  .if  th..  ri<>«dni>- 
hut  no  .-;eri.)Us  ilama^e  was  .Ion.,  until  the  hriu-  whi.di  eave  the 


91^ 


i™^ 


H(J 


U'AUS    .\S|>    IM'NlDlis    ol-    WAI!:- 


ill vitalidii  Id  Imltlr  Wiis  marly  lioxc  lo  ilic  third  tiinc  tn  |)V(- 
sent  ii  hroiidsidc. 

••  Ni)\v.  "  s  lid  N'auuliiiii  til  liis  inatc  •■  <sr\  cvcrvt iiiiiii'  I't'iidv 
t'lir  a  (|uick  (iir  and  I  will  dn  .xdiiic  ilaiiiaiif  il'  imwdcr  will 
'•aiTv  a  iiall.  '" 

Tlic  hriti  Ikii'c  ii|i  tu  llii'  wind  and  Just  as  the  yards  swuiiji' 
anuiiid  ami  the  masts  liail  Warcjy  pasx'd  out  of  raii^jc,  tlu'('ii|i- 
tain  siylilcd  liis  |)icc('.  Marccaii  alnady  stdud  \>y  liiiii  with 
the  red  hot  wires  and  at  the  woi'd  |iiisli('(|  one  down  llic  vent 
and  ])i('rf('d  the  hau  oi'|)owdcr  which  had  hccn  rainiiic<|  down 
Itchind  two  lialls.  The  siiiulc  hai;  oi'  [lowdcr  had  iiccii  rc-in- 
lorccd  iiy  near  iiall'a  lia;;'  wlii<h  Marccaii  had  (|uictly  |KHirc(| 
ill,  contrary  to  orders. 

'I'he  Liiiii  roared,  the  |iroiiioiilory  Ireiiililed,  tlie  smoke  hid 
the  enemy. 

"Well  done,"  shoiiteil  ('oiiiinaiidcr  .M(d'lierson,  as  the 
lihud-;  veil  lifted.  "  N'auyhaii  y(Ui  have  hrouiiht  down  tlie 
I'oreiiiast. 

'I'his  called  out  a  cheer  from  the  entire  hattery,  as  well  as 
il  broadside  from  the  second  \)v\<x.  The  Heel  had  lu'einlescrih- 
iiiii'  a  circle  in  tlu'  maneuver,  as  lIu'V  wore  around  and  stood 
away  from  the  ei'cek,  when  saluted  from  the  masked  hattery. 
'Idle  small  hoals  of  infantry  were  iiietlcctual  at  that  raiiye,  and 
made  liut  one  move  to  land.  That  was  etl'ectually  tdiecke(|  liy 
the  l>att(.'r\'s  coiiceiitratiii,u-  its  lire  iijioii  the  stdiooner  that  at- 
temiiti'd  to  protect  them  in  landinu.  The  licet  was  now  close 
tojiether  and  alforded  an  cNceileiit  mark,  hut  as  the  halls  tore 
their  sails  and  n^uiiiu-  they  realized  the  superiority  of  the  po- 
sition of  the  Americans  and  with  the  small  hoats  towed  the 
di,sahle(|  hri^'  out,  and  soon  the  whole  ileet  dropped  down 
stream  with  the  current,  the  wind  haviiiLi  died  away. 

I)ui'in,u'    this    liall-liour">    cnuaiiciiiciit    the    troops   in    the 


\VAl;>     AM>    lilMi>l!S    (II'     \V\1!S. 


«/ 


<'!llll|l   lllld   lil'Cll   ilr.lWII    up   ill   i||V->  |iill';|(lr  illlil    sldoil  jlt    I'cst   ilS 

idle  s|K'('t!itnrs.      Musi  of  tliciii  liinl  lucii   umlcr   lire.  Init    'hiI  n 


I't'W    (it'tllClll    \villlT(|    Jl-^    lllC    lllllls    iVillll    tllC    lllll 


t  sidi 


ic  hrin' 


wliistlcd  fivcr  llicir  licnds  mid  fell    lianiilcss  inln  the  iiuirsli  or 


Woods  hcNdiid 


Old 


\-  il  \'rW  of   lliclll  were  tiivorcd  witli  il  view 


<»r  tilt'  liittlf.  TllC  ciMiiiv  \v;is  Ic--  rortiiiiiili'  lor  il  is  evident 
that  they  did  not  l<no\v  the  exnet  lo^nlion  of  Ihe  rendezvous  ;is 
their  nini  \v;is  iiiiich  too  lii^li.       Two  men  ;il  the  halterv  were 


Wounded  and  one  was  killed 


oiilrinh 


I.       The   liritish    loss  wa,- 


liot  iiscertaiiied.  and  i;i'eat  or  small  the  world  loses  nothinji'  hy 
lack  of  infoi'iiiali<;;i  I'cL'ardinii'  the  niiiiicrical  slaughter  in  hu- 
man hlood  on  this  or  any  oil;,  r  occasion. 

Nijilit  came. 

TllC  pickets  Were  redouhled  ahout  till'  rende/vous.  and 
every  prcpai'ation  was  made  to  unard  against  a  sur|)rise  hy 
land  and  water.  The  e.\ultant  Aniericaus  knew  full  well  the 
teinpt'i' of  the  race  with  which  they  had    to   ileal,  and  past  e.x- 


pencuces    had     taiiuhl    llieii 


that    this    foe.    thoueli    defeated, 


was    not  vaiKpnshei 


he    iiiiiht    was  cool,    with  just    wuu 


elioujih  lilovillU'  to  lumhle  ;;yailist  the  .-liores  a  slitiht  swell 
which  fallinu'  with  a  regular  cadence  lulled  the  soldiei-  into 
sleep,  or  set  him  tumhliiiii-  on  his  hemlock  couch  as  the 
nervous  system  was  tuned  to  harmony  oi'  otherwise.  ()ften  in 
the  darkness  the  sentinels  were  stai'lled  liy  the  mournful  cry 
of  the  loon,  or  the  sharp  lieatinii' of  his  winys  and  feet  upon 
the  water  in  his  clumsy  allempts  at  lliyht. 

'Idle  morning'  came. 

Sunrise  at  the  Thousand  Islands!  The  lirsl  faint  ylow  of 
lifj;ht  in  the  ea.-l  foreshadowed  lie  oloi'ics  of  the  dawn  of  a 
lieautiful  dav.  Not  so  much  as  a  hrealli  of  air  moved,  for  the 
very  wind  was  awed  into  ^ilell(•e  ;is  the  mellow  liiilit  turned  to 
a  soft  pink  and  Iheii  to  a  i^lowim:-  red  which    <pread  over  that 


■.% 


^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


12.8 


y^ 


mil 

lb 

Li 


2.0 


11.25  i  1.4 


—    6" 


% 


^^ 


0% 


7] 


c> 


/ 


M 


T 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14380 

(716)  S72-4S03 


'<> 


A 


ft8 


WAliS    ANK     lilMdIfS    <t|"    W.* 


j)()rtion  (»f  tlic  horizon.  In  tlic  WMtcr  the  cliaiifiiii^  tints  wvro 
copied  MS  npon  the  jxiintcr's  onivjis.  I.onj>'  slindous  crept 
iiwjiy  from  tlie  ti'ces  crowning-  the  ritcky  l)hiirs  whose  si(hs  tlie 
water  hizily  hipped,  just  as  a  fond  mother  awakens  a  child  witli 
a  caress  h'st  it  l)e  startled  at  a  too  sudden  awakeninin'.  'I'he  air, 
huU'n  with  th"  resinons  odors  oi'  cone-hearinn'  trees,  sei'nie<l  to 
have  fiained  volume  durinj^'  the  iii<ilit.  and  the  soldiers  from 
the  far  south  declared  they  could  fairly  taste  it.  Here  and 
there  a  shining  maskahmue,  the  l"'rencliman's  "  lon<i-face.  " 
shot  out  of  his  nativi'  element  aii<l  fell  iiack  with  a  reM)undinji' 
splash  upon  the  still  surface.  A  \'-shaped  Hock  of  fjecse.  led 
hy  the  refi,ulai'  '•  (pionk,  (juonk,  "  of  a  soher  oM  pilot  '•ander, 
rou.sed  company  after  company  of  the  slcepinj>'  ii'oo|iers  who 
contentedly  fell  hack  again  at  the  i'esponsiv<'  "  lada-lunk.  "'  of 
the  mother  goose  as  they  pressed  their  (light  southward.  The 
.sentries  forgot  theii-  heats,  and  looking  over  the  rude  ramjtarts 
hecome  lost  in  admiration  of  the  miraculous  hirth  of  another 
day.  The  morning  stai-  fa<le(l.  The  halo  of  morn  was  reiii- 
forceil  with  hright  rays  shooting  ujiward  and  outward  hy  com- 
])anies  like  glistening  sjiears  liehind  a  golden  hattlcment  which 
a  fleecy  cloud  caught  up  in  hold  rellection  as  if  to  mirror  the 
splen<loi-s  of  a  gloi'ioiis  sunrise  for  Nattires  own  admiration. 
Higher  and  yet  higher  shot  the  pinnacles  of  light.  Shorter 
and  shorter  drew  the  sha<lows.  Fainter  and  fainter  hecame 
the  red  glow,  and  lighter  and  lighter  hecame  the  leafy  caverns 
that  ii  moment  ago  seemed  dark  and  impenetrahle.  'i'he  glis- 
tening channels,  which  lay  scattered  ahout  like  silver  threads, 
shot  away  into  the  more  intricate  and  all  l>nt  inaccessihle 
lahvrinths  of  (his  miuhlv  cadiedral  no(  of  man's  cons(ruc(ion. 
A  Hock   of  whistle-wings   (acked   ups(ream,  and   a   .^ohci' 


ci'ane  slowlv  liea(  (he  air 


as   wi 


h    1( 


<(relched    hack    like  a, 


pair  of  piuhlleSj  and  neck  closely  coiled,  he  s(aigh(  hi-'  l'avorit\^! 


WAliS    AND    ItlMoliS    or    WAItS. 


SO 


Wiulin^  place  where  fruj>s  were  jireenest.  aiitl  little  tish  most 
venturesome.  I'pward  and  upwanl  elimhed  the  streaks  ot  red 
and  white  and  yellow,  until  as  with  a  myriad  of  "ioideii  wires 
the  sun's  disk  was  slowly  lifted  into  th(>  horizon  whence  he 
was  to  cut  his  way  across  the  heavens  in  the  ceaseless  pursuit 
of  ever-lleetm^'  dawn. 
The  reveille  I 

lUiffle  sound  and  heat  of  drum  recall.s  the  stern  fact  that 
in  the  midst  of  these  peaceful  solitudes  War,  red-hande<l, 
hiood-thirsty  War,  stalks  abroad  in  a  reij>n  of  terror. 

When  the  di.'v.hled  fleet  drifted  out  of  ranuc  of  the  hat- 
tery.  Commander  Mcd'hersou  was  anxious  to  follow  and  ovt'r- 
takinjj;  them  complete  the  victory.  Not  for  a  moment  did  In^ 
think  that  the  policy  of  (Jeiieral  Wilkinson  would  he  other- 
wise. His  an.xiety  was  the  possil)ility  that  his  command  would 
be  ordered  to  remain,  and  others  he  sent  <iut  in  their  stead. 
No  t)rders  were  issued  and  the  attacking'  party  departeil  as  un- 
molested as  thoujih  ,u;oinj>;  for  an  outin<i\ 

"  \'aujihan,  "  suuiiested  the  commamler.  when  it  was  cer- 
tain no  orders  for  the  ])ursuit  were  to  issue,  "  what  do  you  say 
to  following;  the  fleet  and  biin^'iii''  them  hack  as  |)rizes?  " 

"(Jet  thee  hehind  mi',  Satan,"  (pioted  \'auu,han.  '"  It's  a 
shame  to  let  tlu-m  slip  away  Just  when  we  had  them  fairly 
caught.  lUit  its  a  sampU'  of  what  the  '  rejilars"  are  made  of. 
^hlrceau  and  Lane  would  capture  the  hull  Itilin"  on  "em  with 
a  canoe  I     I  tell  you  its  a  fool  expedition,  this.  " 

The  men  parted  ami  did  not  meet  until  the  next  forenoon. 
N'aughan  and  the  two  |»ilots  stood  upon  the  crude  hreast woi'ks 
and  ])asse(l  a  spyglass  from  eye  to  eye. 

Marceau  s]ioke  lii'st  :  '•  Thet  thare's  no  dead  pine.  Dead 
pines  don't  tiavel  fur,  and  that  one's  opened  a  hand's  width 
HIrI  whals  onusual  its  got  it  niat"-  f'()llying  at  prezackly  \\\ii 


00  W.MtS    AND    IMMOliS    dl"    WAKS. 

sMiiu'  piit!      Its  a  c-oupU'  ..ft<.im«Msts  M-l.uMuin  aluft  tlu- island, 
jmd  we'll  licv  uunv  cclcbnitin'  aloiv  loiio-.  sir.  " 

Vaujihaii  m..tioiu'.l  t<.  M.-lMuTsnn,  wlm  t..(.k  tlu-las>  but 
i-Mvd  to  voritV  tlu.  pilot's  .liscovfry.  wlu.-i.  in  no  wise  discon- 
,rrte<l  that  worthy,  who  rather  fVlt  his  supcrionty  ov.r  the 
otlicer. 

Lane  took  a  lon^  look  and  without  removing  the  j-lass 
aunounee.1  that  then-  were  '•  four  dead  pines  wulkm  up^the 
eric'k,  n(»w.  '' 

.lust  then  the  howsprit  of  the  iirst  sehooner,  for  there  was 
MO  di.uht  about  it  now,  pushed   out  of  a   roeky  eleft,  and  ma 
tVw  moments  the  lately  ues.l  up   Heet  was  seen  advane.nj.-  tc. 
renew  the  combat.     MeIMH-rs..n  .uave  his  men  a  lew  words  ot 
eneoura-ement  and  then  instructed  the  jiuuners  to  ho.l  their 
lire  until  the  enemv  attacked.      Tlu>   fleet  was  slu.rt  one  brif." 
„u  this  occasion,  a  fact  which    Vau.uhan  noted    w,th   some  in- 
ward scM-praise.     The  scho..m.rs  led  the  bri.u  by  .unshot  .lis- 
tance,  and  approaehii.o-  b.ddly  t..  the  step  bluffs   set  a  couple 
of  twelve-pounders  to   soundin- taps  at   the  clear  sky   above. 
The  batterv  returned  with  a  concerted  volcano  of  hell-lire  and 
shot  which'  cut  some  of  the  running  ri-jiin-,  an<l   some  of  the 
s.nls  drooped.     This  evi.lently  .lisconcerted   the   schooners  for 
thev  i.nmediatelv  fell  ba.k  to  the  protection  of  the larj-er -uns 
of  the  brifr.     ^Hie  slijiht  breeze  was  dyin^  out  and  after  tiring 
a  few  ramlom  shots  the  Heet  retreated  as  it   had  on  the  m-ht 
])ievious. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  follow  the  enemy  <lown  the  Riv- 
er, and  camp  at  Wilkinson's  IV.int  was  not  broken  until  three 
days  later.  The  soldiers  suffered  from  want  of  sliocs  and 
winter  clothing,  and  besides  .-very  man  <.r  them  had   intcUi. 


U'Aks   AN'D   RUMORS   OP   WAllg. 


91 


^^once  to  forosce  tl,e  .lisnster  winch  subsor,uo.,tIv  bofcll  the  cx- 
I'oditioM  at  (:|irvs|(M-'s  Field.  ' 

At  the  hattio  or  Martldt  Point  two  An.oricans  worn  killcl 
I  ^-.-  were  wounded.     Mc-I'lu.-son   was  pron.oted  to  a  cun- 

su  .    ^^"\^;'^'^"'/^'"^'"'''''l  -^-  tl.e  schooner  Julia,   whose 

.siMe...ful   eruisuii,  fonns   the  suhject  of  another  chapter. 


Tin-;  sToitv  ()!.•  T(>.\r  (iAnxKr. 

Kvor  .since  that  period  when  man  reared  on  his  hind  legs 

uud  walked   ronmnce  has  been  si^nallv  united  with  war.    Out 

ot  the  nmst  touclnng  anec<lotes  of  the  second  war  with  Kn^land 

s  u  a  tod  o.  a  hero  of  the  Arn,v  of  the  North,  as  that   a^.  on 

I^akeOntanoan.l  the  St.  Lawn-nce  l>order  was  clesi^nn.ted 

Ion,  (.arnet  was  the  son  of  an  English  farmer  livintr 
about  forty  nnles  fro.n  Liverpool.  He  ch^se  a  partner'fo  ? 
and  was  .sent  not  long  after  n.arriage  with  an  ox  cart  la  n 
u.th  wheat  to  Liverpool,  to  exchange  f.r  furniture  andln^  ! 

h  s  e nt.eat  es  and   resistance,  was   taken  on   hoard  a    frig  ,te 

a  2  ^;-;>  *<•.•;  c;  Kast  Indies.  Ins  cart  an.l  oxen  remait;^^ 
m  the  stre-t,  and  Inmself  unahle  to  relieve  anxieties  at  hon,t 
by  a  sn.gle  word  of  explanation. 

During  .seven  long  weary  years,  he  was  detained  abroad 
^^•tl.out  an  opportunity  of  exchanging  letters  with  his  tamilv 
or  o   know.ng  whether  those  n.ost  dear  were  .lead  or  alive     U 
ongth  he  was  paid  off  and  .set  on  shore  at   Liverpool.     Sun- 
burnt by  tropical  heat,  an.l  hagganl  from  hard  service  he  w-  s 


il-> 


WA.S    ANh    KlMOliS    oi'    WAIJS. 


SO  ,  Imiifjcd  that  his  In'st  tViciids  would  luinlly  li.'ivc  known 
liini.  He  had  carefully  saved  liis  caniiii'is,  and  liaviiifj; 
shunned  the  vices  that  sailors  (<m)  often  ac(|uire,  he  had  with 
Idni  a  eonsiderahle  sum,  for  a  man  (tf  ids  station,  with  which 
lie  was  fondly  hopinj;'  to  jiladden  the  hearts  of  lovt'tl  ones  at 
lionie — if  ju'rehanee  they  were  still  livin<i-.  As  nif2,ht  a]»- 
proaehed,  fearinj;-  to  c:dl  at  an  inn,  lest  his  dress  an<l  ajtpear- 
ance  shituld  excite  suspicion  that  he  nu^ht  he  a  deserter  from 
the  fleet,  he  crept  iido  a  nook  un<ler  a  stack  of  suaw,  and 
s]»ent  til"  nif>ht.  In  the  mornin<>'.  tlu're  was  a  dense  foji',  and 
not  knowinu'  the  course  he  shouM  take,  he  tell  in  with  another 
press  ffanji,  and  was  auain  cari'ied  on  hoard  a  vessel  ahout  to 
sail  for  the  South  A.uerican  Coast.  After  some  years,  lindinjj; 
an  opjKtrtunity,  he  <'scaped,  crossed  the  Andes,  and  at  leiifith, 
reaching  an  Atlantic  port,  he  enlisted  for  a  i'vw  months  in  an 
American  ship,  which  soon  hrought  h"  n  to  the  Tnited  States. 


II 


IS  crew  w 


as  detaile(l  for  , ■service  on    Lake  Ontario,  and  he 


arrived  at  Sackets  Ilarhor  in  the  fall  of  1S12,  and  joined  the 
crew  of  the  hrifi'  Oneida  under  Lieutenant  U'oolsey.  Huring 
twenty  years  he  had  heen  unai)le  to  gain  the  lirst  word  from 
home.  He  was  of  a  kind,  cheerful  and  ohliging  dispositi<»n, 
was  strictly  temperate,  u.>^ed  no  prcd'ane  language,  and  was 
made  captain  of  the  forecastle,  from  tlu'  entire  contideiice  that 
was  placed  in  his  capacity  and  lidelity.  -ii  short,  'I'oin  (iar- 
net  was  the  univer.'^al  favorite  of  the  hrig,  and  hotli  othcers 
and  men  hecanie  sti'ongly  attached  to  him  for  his  kindness  of 
lieai't,  intelligence  jind  moral  worth. 

On  the  m<»rning  hefore  the  lleet  of  Commodore  Chauncey 
sailed  to  meet  the  enemy  neai'  Kingston,  Tom  related  to  his 
comrades  a  dream  he  had  the  night  liefore,  in  which  his  wife 
appeared  to  him  as  a  disemhodied  spirit  in  Heaven,  with  ii 
pop,  whom  ho  Imd   never  seen,  jind   told  him   he  would  soop 


WAliS    AM)    Ifl MOliS    Ol'    WAK 


join  tlicni.     I  lis  storv 


iind 


l:(;:t((l   willi   Icvitv  ;  l,ut  the  cji! 


in 


tenons  cjTiur.lnoss  wiili  \v!i:c!i  hv   rclr.tcd  it.  .'iiid    (I 


ic  cvi- 


ilciil  coiiviflif.-a  ho  liad  i)s  (■)  'An-  pivinuniiion,  dKckcd  liilarit: 
IIo  nrofocdnl  to  divide  Ids  v,jirdp(.l)c  miik.iij^-  Ids   coinpMidon's, 
and  iravc  instructions  iihout  tlic  disposal  of  the  little  property 


lie  jtossessed,  as  one   aliont    to  d 


vet    111- 


•lieeil'nl 


ne 


and 


le 


nlaerity  were  nnahated  ;  altlintij.li  he  evidently  I.elieved  in  tl 
presentiment  lie  liad  expressid.  lie  seenud  exhilarated  in  the 
welcome  prospect  of  nieetiiifi  the  lono-lost  and  dear  partner  of 
early  hopes. 


Tlie  fleet  sailed  and  eiifj:a,m'd  the  enemy's  hatteries  in  tl 
harhor  of  Kingston,   the   (irst   slmt    from    wliicl :■■ 


le 


1    was  a  niiu- 


j»asse<l 


pound  hall,  which  crossed  the  deck  of  the  Oneida,  and  , 
through  the  hody  of  Tom  (iariiet  at  his  post.      He  fell  instant- 
ly  dead,  with    the  sj:me  Mr.ile   up(  n   his  c(;untenance  which 
habit  had  impres.sed. 


KAIM.V    SMr(i(l|,IN(i. 


A  company   of  infantry,   under  Captain    Hennet.  and   of 


twenty- three  artillerymen,  under   Lieutenant   ( 


tioned  at  Sackets  Ilarhor  in    ISIIS.  and   earl 


ross,  wei'c  sta- 


V  ill    March.  ISO'.). 


ive  men),  from  Colonel  i' 


two  detachments  of  militia  (fortv-l 

Slickney's   re<iiment,  wer(>  drawn   out.  twenty   of  whom  were 

stationed  on   the  St.  Liiwniice   at   (Ir/ivelly   I'oint,  now  Cape 


X'incent,  opposite  Kiii«islon.  and  the  i 
the  ( )swei>atehie  road,  wliei 


•maiiiijer  at  Antwerp  on 


c  several   routes   united 


Tl 


e  (111- 


bargo  had  the  effect  of  lowering.;'  the  price  of  urain.  by   inter- 
Hljjtii)^'  iho  RonunoitT  ^y  whjcli  it   Wiu;  (%Nj)ortcd,  while  IVotii 


94 


WAHs  ANh  m-Mor.s  cr  wah 


the  simo  cause  it  eiinrmnnsly  iiicreiiscMl  flic  price  of  j)()tMsli, 
whidi  all  new  'voody  countries  ]tro(luc(\  and  wliidi  the  eui- 
biivfj^o  prcveuied  from  reaching;  Knjilaud.  except  indirectly  by 
way  of  Canada.  This  attbnk'd  a  temptation  too  strong-  for  the 
honesty  of  j^reat  numi)i'n5,  who,  notwithstandinjjj  the  vifi'ilance 
of  the  revenue  ollieers  were  very  successful.  This  article  I'ose 
to  ^.'^00  to  .S)V2()  per  ton  in  Montreal,  from  whence  it  coul<l  be 
exported  without  obstruction  to  England  ;  and  as  there  then 
existed  in  Canada  no  law  against  its  importation  into  the 
country,  the  only  ditticulty  to  nu'ct  was  an  evasion  or  open 
defiance  of  our  own  laws.  I'otash  was  brou<>ht  from  the  inte- 
rior counties,  and  even  from  New  York  to  this  frontier,  and 
temporary  roads  were  beaten  throuji;h  the  forest  in  the  winter 
time,  by  those  ennaged  in  this  illetfal  traflic.  Amonff  these 
was  the  "  endjargo  road,  "  from  the  Black  River,  near  ih'own- 
ville,  to  near  French  Creek,  which  for  a  season  became  a  great 
thoroughfare  for  smugglers. 

Previous  tf>  the  calling  out  of  the  militia  detachments 
above  mentioned,  Mr.  Hart  Massey  had  seized  fifty-four  bar- 
rels of  [)ot  and  pearl  ashes,  and  twenty  Ijarrcls  of  pork  near 
Cape  Vincent,  wliich  proj)erty  was  ojieuly  rescued  and  carried 
off  bv  a  force  of  fiftv  or  sixtv  armed  men,  with  manv  sleighs 
from  Kingston. 

L'nder  date  of  Ahirch  14,  ISOO,  the  collector  at  Sackets 
Harbor  made  the  following  c(jmplaint  to  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment : 

Nature  has  furnished  the  smugglers  with  the  firlne^t  ice 
that  was  ever  known  on  this  frontier.  There  is  scarcely  a 
place  from  the  Oswegafchie  to  Handy  Creek,  a  distance  of  1 10 
Tniles,  but  that  the  ice  is  good.  Sli^iglis  jiass  at  Sackets  I  lar- 
i)or  ten  miles  from  shore,  and  all  the  force  I  can  raise  is  not 
sufficient  to  .stop  them.     They  appear  determined  to  evade  th') 


WAKS    AND    ISlMOJiS   OK    \VAI5S. 


05 


laws  at  the  risk  of  their  livos.  Moi'o  piii-ticiilarly  at  Oswc- 
pitcliic,  I  am  infornu'd,  tlicy  liavc  ciitcTcd  into  a  coiubinatittn 
not  to  cntortaiii,  nor  even  suiU'r  any  other  force  to  he  stationo*! 
in  that  vieinity,  and  their  threats  are  handetl  out,  tiiat  if  I,  or 
any  otlier  oflieer  slioiild  eoint'  there  apiin,  they  will  take  a  raw 
hide  to  them,  which  they  declare  they  have  prepai'ed  for  that 
jmrpose.  Tlu'se  threats  don't  terrify  me.  1  only  mention 
them  to  let  you  know  their  unprincipled  determination.  The 
regular  troops,  and  the  inhabitants  at  that  station,  hav(  a  mu- 
tual understandinjf.  If  the  troops  th:it  are  there,  are  not 
called  away,  it  will  l)e  in  vain  to  send  any  more,  without 
sendin<f  (Mioutjli  to  overpower  them  and  the  inhabitants. 

The  militia,  stationed  on  the  ( )sweji;atchie,  are  thirty  miles 
this  way  from  the  post,  at  the  jjlace  where  the  roads  hrancdi 
off  to  various  parts  of  St.  Lawrence  County.  [.Vntwerp.]  The 
people  in  the  vicinity  of  their  station  are  lu-.-'tile  and  refuse  tr» 
acconnnodate  them   witli   anvthin<i\  even   to  admit  them   into 


thei 


r  iKtuses. 


Thev  are  in  a  sulferinir  conditi(.n,  and  the  snow 


is  three  feet  deep.  1  shall  <j;o  to  their  assistance  soon,  and  fur- 
nish them  with  such  thiuiis  as  they  are  in  want  of,  to  keep 
them  from  sulferinji;.  They  are  poorly  armed,  without  blan- 
kets or  cookinff  utensils,  or  even  without  shelter,  except  hem- 
lock boujihs,  but,  notwithstandinji'  their  distressed  situation, 
they  stop  the  illicit  trade  on  that  road.  It  is  with  difliculty 
that  I  f>;ot  any  assistance  for  the  conveyance  of  property  to  the 
public  store.  If  I  havi'  not  armed  men  with  me,  the  inhabi- 
tants will  assemble  in  the  niyht  and  t:d<e  the  ])ro|)erty  from 
me.  There  are  some  wlio  wish  to  support  the  hiws,  but  they 
are  .so  unpo[»ular  that  they  shrink  fnan  their  duty.  My  life 
and  Ihe  lives  of  my  dei»uties  are  threatened  daily  ;  what  will 
be  the  fate  of  us.  (Jod  only  knows. 

This  open  and  bold  deriance  of  lav.'s,  was  n;)t  entirelv  dun 


m 


WAliS    ASM)    1!IM<»|!S    Ol"    UAlJS. 


to  ii  incri'ciiiiry  spirit.  \n\{  to  itnliliciil  niiicoi'  mid  m  prncticnl 
o|>]Mt.siti(ni  t(»  !i  Inw  which  they  (hcliiicd  iiiicoiistitutiomil  iiiid 
void.  .\ii  (»|K'M  (h'liMiict'  to  the  hiw  wms  iittcniptcd  mI  Oswcjijo, 
ill  the  .siniiincr  of  ISOS.  it  is  s:\id,  in  part,  hy  citizens  olMcllcr- 
si»n  County,  which  wms  holdly  plnniicd  hut  pooi'ly  cxcciilid. 
One  niornin;^'  nhout  ten   lionts  with    sixty  iirnicd  men,  en- 


tered that  harhor,  and  tVoni  an  inlniiation  that    w 


IS   ^iven  iiy 


one  ol"  their  nundier.  it  was  learned  that  they  desij;ned  to  I'or- 
cihly  seize  ii  (|iiantity  of  Hour  that  had  heen  detained  hy  the 
collector.  Mr.  Hurt,  or  to  use  their  own  lan^ua^ic.  •' to  clear  out 
the  place  oi"  burn  it.  "  .\  nu'ssij^c  was  at  once  sent  to  hasten 
on  a  company  of  ilrajioons  at  ()nonda;ia,  who  arrived  within 
half  a  dozen  miles  and  encampetl.  {.eai'iiiny  that  the  hour  of 
11  ji.  m.  was  auree(l  upon  for  a  "scrape,"  the  detachment  was 
hastened  lorwai'd.  an<l  arrived  a  I'vw  minutes  hefore  the  signal 


was  <iiven. 


Jit 


arinii'  the  mu>:ic  of  the  approachinji'  company 


e    Woods,  leaVHiti" 


the  insoh'ut  maraudeis  instantly  lle<l  to  th 
theii'  hoats  in  ehar^ic  of  the  collector.  The  <ireat  price  to  which 
ashes  arose  le(l  foi-  a  shoi't  time  to  extensive  clearinji's  for  this 
(thject  as  labor  was  fai-  better  rewarded  in  this,  than  in  the  or- 
dinary ptu'suits  of  husbandry.  On  the  first  of  .\hirch,  1S(){», 
the  end)ai'jio  oave  place  to  a  uon-inlei'coui'se  law,  which  ex- 
pired in  May.  ISlu.  On  the  fourth  of  Ajtril.  1.S12,  an  end)ai'- 
^o  was  a<iain  laid,  which  remlered  renewet!  vi«iilance  neces- 
sary ;  but  this  time  a  more  eiiicient  sy^•.teI:l  of  means  was  at 
hand. 

In  .M:iy,  1S12,  tlie  Lord  Xel.son.  a  ih-itisli  schooner,  bound 
for  Nia<iara.  and  latieri  with  II  )Ui'  and  merchandise  from 
Mini'ston,  beinj.^'  found  in  .\merican  waters  in  the  lake,  was 
Citptured  by  \\\)ol.'^ey,  brou^iiit  into  Sackets  Harbor  and  coii- 
deinnetl  a.«  a  lawful  ])rize.  Amon^  the  goods  taken  and  oU'ered 
at  auction  was  a  <piantity  of  plate,  jewelry,   wearirg  apparel 


\VAI!S    ANI»    IMMoliS    (IK    WAIiS.  Q^ 

and  liouschold  iirticlcs  of  ridi   nuitcriiils,  lu'loiifjins  to  a  Indy 
on^icoiistowii.  ncuiy   iiiiirricd.  l)ut    not   on    iM.nrd  ;  find  tlicso 
tii'ticlcs  of  yivfit  iiitfiiisic  value,  wciv   iiicstimal.lv   precious  t«» 
the  owner,  as  family  relies  an<l  l<ee|.s;ikes.   '|'li,.se,  ( '(iiuniodorc 
Woolsey,  with  true  courtesy,  proposed  to  restore,  and  (he  sn^'- 
fH'M'iun  was  si'conded  hy  the  iiearly  acclamation  of  his  pillant 
sailors,  who  (.ll'crcd  to  reliruiuisli  their  claim  ;  hut  oth^'rs,  from 
sordid  and  illihcral  motives,  insisted    that    the  sale   should  «•<) 
on,  and  undertook    to  compete   in    the   hids.  which  j>raduallv 
arose  to  three,  four  and  hve  hundred  dollars.   At  this  moment, 
thcfrallant  \\'oolsey.  deternnned    not   to   he   hallled  in  his  de- 
sign, suddenly  raised  his  hid  to   live  thousand,  which   at  onco 
(■U(h'd  the  contest,  amid  the  cheers  of  his  men,  and  to  the  dis- 
disconditof  his  o]>ponents.     The   propi-.-ty,  he   promptly  lor- 
warded    to    the  owner,   and    tlie    ^'overnm;-nt   sanctioned   his 
course  hy  discliar^inn-  him  from  the  ohliiration. 


TMK    WAl!    SCAHK. 

War  havino'  hoen  for  years  anticipated,  was  declared  Juno 
l.S,  1S12,  hy  a  vote  of  7!)  to  V.)  in  the  house,  and  of  1!)  to  lo  in 
the  senate;  Silas  Stow  then  re|»resented  this  district  and  voted 
in  the  ne«;ativc.  The  event  was  first  aiuiouncod  in  a  letter 
from  Covernor  Tompkins  to  r.rijiadier-(ieneral  Jacob  Brown, 
of  the  ndlitia.  dated  June  -J:!,  in  which  he  was  empowered  to 
re-inforce  Colonel  Bellinger,  with  the  militia  of  J.ewis,  Jetter- 
son  and  St.  Lawrence  counties,  and  to  arm  and  equip  them  at 
the  state  arsenals  at  IJussell  and  W'atertown,  if  occasion  re- 
quired.    Colonel    !5enedict,  (,f  DeKalh.  St.  Lawrence  Countv 


08 


W.MiS    AND    IflNKMtS   or    WAHH. 


wiiH  onlcrt'd  to  turn  out  iiuiiicdiMtcly  to  miiinl  tlic  frontiers 
from  O^dcnshur^  to  St.  Rcjiis.  In  reply,  (ienenil  Mrown  urfj;e(l 
the  speedy  forwiii'dinjf  of  arms  and  munitions,  and  tliat  a  f(»rco 
should  Ik)  poste<l  at  Cape  N'ineent  and  ()j;»lensl)urji,  whieh 
eould  he  eoiieentrated  at  a  tV-w  hours'  notiee.  should  decisive 
measures  lie  necessary.  This  letter  contained  the  folJMNvinfj; 
soutiments  : 

"  Your  K.xeellency  will  hear  in  mind,  that  this  is  a  very 
new  country;  that  the  population  is  li«;ht,  and  <^t'Uerally  poor, 
thouj>h  very  respectahh.'  for  so  new  a  country,  ,ind  that,  if  any 
more  men  are  called  from  their  lionu-s,  the  cr(»ps  whi(di  now 
promise  a  very  ahundant  harvest  nuist  peri.sh  on  the  ground. 
I  mention  this  to  your  IvNcellency,  as  the  county  expects  it  at 
my  hands,  and  much  more  than  my  feehle  abilities  can  ac- 
complish ;  hut  no  eonsidcrutions  of  this  nature  shall  di-ter  mo 
for  n  moment  from  calliufi  out  every  man  in  the  county,  if  its 
defense  requires  it,  though,  for  the  [uvsent,  I  must  hope  that 
the  force  cominjj;  on,  will  render  such  a  measures  unnecessary. 
f  pray  (Jod  that  our  ^jovernment  will  act  with  decisictu  and 
eni'r{i;y  which  liecomes  a  f^allant  jieople.  " 

On  the  tirst  announcement  of  war,  some  families  hastily 
prepared  to  leave  the  country,  to  which  they  were  impelled  in 
})art  by  fuf>itives  of  the  same  class  from  St.  I.aw'rencc  County, 
and  so  terror  stricken  were  some,  that  they  hastily  tied  into 
the  hack  settlements,  sprea<linfj^  consternation  on  their  way, 
and  leavinji;  their  houses  open  to  any  who  mi<rht  choose  to 
enter.  Hut  to  the  credit  of  the  county  the  ninnher  of  the.se 
timid  ones  was  eom])arative1y  small,  and  several  who  had  re- 
moved returned.  The  fear  of  Indian  massaere,  which  the 
memories  of  the  revolution  sug<>'estcd,  was  in  ji'eneral  the  im- 
pelling cause,  although  they  could  scairely  deline  the  .source 
froni  wheucL' th-'se  (Ireailed  nr.uMuder,'-  would  come,  or  atlducg 


W.M! 


AN'I>    ItlMolJS    (ir    WAI! 


no 


a  coiisistciit  iirjimiu'iit  1(»  jiistily  llu'ir  ii|i|ir('liciisi(in.  After  n 
tiinc,  coiirHlciicc  licjiiiii  ti)  rctiini.  tiiitil  iil  Icii^itli  sninc  si'ttli'r 
vcnturcil  to  cross  tlic  river  hy  niulit.  to  cull  mmoii  mm  oM  iie- 
(lUailltimce.  'I'liese  visits  ^fiidMiiily  lieeilile  more  eolimioii, 
ilixl  l)y  tlie  time  tile  war  elideil,  old  iie  |inilil;me,'s  Ind  aire  idy 
Iteeii  renewed  ;  tile  river  W.is  ei'o-is  'd  liy  d.iylijilil,  iilld  M^  often 
IIS  there  was  oei'asion — ind,  in  short,  they  found  that  althoU'ih 
lt%'ally  enemies,  tiiey  wvw  still  IViends. 

Tilt' news  of  the  war  hatl    scarcely    reidied    this   frontier, 
when  hostilities  were  hee-un   in  a  small    wav.  l»v    Aimer    Ilnh- 


hard. 


a    rev(dution:irv    s  ildier,    who,   without   authoritv,  and 


with  only  the  aid  of  a  m  in  and  a  li  )y.  mide  a  descent  upon 
Fort  Carleton,  near  ('aiie  N'inceiit.  and,  without  lii'in;;  a  ^niii, 
took  the  jiarrison,  coiisistiny  of  three  invalid  men  and  two  wo- 
iiu'ii,  prisoners.  The  next  day  a  hoat  was  sent  to  the  islan<l 
for  the  st(»res,  and  the  Imildinjis  were  afterwards  hurned.  This 
l>rot'('C'diiij''  heinji' known  at  Kinj^ston,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
detain  a  citizen  from  Hrownvilh',  who  w.is  in  town  on  com- 
mercial husiness,  hut  hein<i'  forewarned  hy  a  friend  he  I'scaped. 
On  the  "J'.Mli  of  April,  a  licet  of  trailinu'  vessels,  that  had  hccn 
caufrht  at  Oiideiishur^,  and  were  attempting'  to  ascend  the 
river  to  the  lake,  were  pursued  l»y  a  party  of  provincial  mili- 
tia. Two  of  the  vessels,  the  Sophia  and  I-land  Packet,  were 
burned  near  .Morristowu,  and  the  remainder  returned  in  ^reat 
confusion  to  ()j>(lenshur;j:,  where  they  created  the  ji'reatest 
alarm.  On  the  second  of  .lidy,  the  scouts  of  (iencral  l>rown 
hrou^fht  in  a  man,  found  between  Indian  iJiver  and  th(>  St. 
Lawrence,  who  was  taken  for  a  spy.  but  proved  to  bean  Amer- 
ican and  conlirmed  the  account  of  the  bnrniuj>-  of  the  ves.st'ls, 
statin/j;  that  there  were  about  thirty  persons  aboai'd,  mostly 
families  movini"; ;  and  that  the  most  of  tlu'ir  ell'eets  wert( 
burn.'d.      It  v.a::  apiireliended   t'.iat   the  enemy   were  about  to 


loo  WAItS    AN'I)    UrMOliS    Oi'    \VAi{«. 

fortify  tlie  islands,  aiul  thus  command  the  rivor.      A  low  days 
before  the  news  of  war  was  received,  a  larue  (|naiitity  of  small 
arms  was  f.rw.irded  l)y  t  lie  .governor  to  this  frontier,  consistina; 
of  two   thou.smd    muskets,  and   a    corres[)ondin«;-   ([uantily  of 
numitions,  wlii(di  wci'c  mostly  sent  on  to  the  KusscU  Arsenal, 
in  St.    Lawrence  comity,  cscorle<l    hy    the   detachment    from 
Lewis  Couiitv.      A  considcral)le  hody  of  militia  from  .letferson 
('(umtv,  was  asscndiled  at    ('ai»e  N'incent.  toj^-ether  with  a  |)or- 
tion  of  the  force  of  Colonel  l'>ellin<-er,  as  it  was  considered  ad- 
vi.sahlc  to  keep  l<in<;ston  in  as  <ireat  a  state  of  alarm  as  possi- 
ble.     At  this  point  was  the  ^reat  naval  station  of  the   enemr, 
where  for  one  or  two  years  armed  vessels   had   been    buildin<r, 
and   from    whence   alon<'   an    attack   coidd   be   reasonably  ex- 
pected.     It  was  a|;preliended  that  an    attemi)t  would  be  made 
by  the  P.ritish.  to  destroy  or  take   our  vessels   at    O.udensbur^r, 
and  the  Oneida,  Lord  Nelson,  and  other  vessels  at  Sackets  Har- 
bor.     To  be  in  readiness  for  any  attack,  the  governor  was  im- 
portuned to  ibrward  cannon    from    the   state  ar.^^enals,  and  the 
assurance  was -iven  that  a  ,u-ood    account    wou.hl    bo   rendered 
of  the  enemy,    sh(add    they   attempt    any    expedition    to    our 
shores.     Oh  tlie  11th  of  .luly  a   rumor  was  spread   that,   Lieu- 
t'uant  Woolst'V,  with  the  iirij-'  Oneida,  had  been  taken  by  the 
o.iomy,  which  brought  Oeiieral  r.rown  to  the   Harbor,  but  the 
report  proved  ^rn.midlcss.     There  had  arrived  tv.u  brass  nino- 
pouiulers,  but  no  ninep<aind  shot. 


I  iitsT  n.\TrM-:  at  sackkts  iiAitMoi}. 

On  SuikImv,  the  liUli  ..C  .luly,  1,S12,  Captain   Woolsey,  of 
the  Oneida,  <lisc()V(iv(l  from  the   mast    lica.l   of  his   h^iJ,^  five; 
sail    of   tlic"  tMK-niy   iK'utino-  up    tiic    l!arl)or.    viz:    the    Roval 
(Jeor^e,  ■_>4  fiuus  :  the   Sen.'ea,  IS  ;  |>rinee   llen-ent,  22  :  KarJ  of 
Moira.  20;  and  Sinieoe.     The  Oneida   attempted    to   .uain    tlio 
lake,    hut    failiii_i>,   retui'ned,    and    was   nioi.red   outsi<h'  of  the 
]>oint,    where    tlie   sliip    house   stood,    with    one   hroadside    of 
nine  "uns  to  the  enemy,  while  the  others  were  taken   out  and 
hastily  placed  on  a  hicastwork  on    the   shori',  near   wliieh,  on 
the  day  previous,  a  ;52-p()uiider  (intended  for   the  Ciieida,  hut 
found  too  heavy)  had  heeii  mounted  on  a  pivot,  upon  a  mound 
ahout  six    feet  hiuh.      Alarm    ^uiis    weri«   fired,  ami    expresses 
sent  to  eall  in  the  nei.uhhorinu'  militia,  who  did    not,  however, 
arrive  in  time  to  rendi'r  assi^tanee,  hut    who,  in   the  eourse  of 
the  day,  eame  in  to  the  innnher  of  ;!,()()().     The    British    had, 
early  in  the  mornin,<.-.  (■a])tured  a  hoat  laden   with   Hour  from 
<'a|M'  N'ineent.  and  the  erew  was  set   on    shore,  and   sent    with 
the  in(>ssa,ue  "(hat  all  they  want  d  was  the  hri^^  Om.jchi,  and 
the  Lord  Nelson  (a  vessel  taken  a  little    hefore   for::  violation 
of  the  reveime),  and  tli;it  they  would  hum  the  village  if  there 
w;is  a  siufi'le  shot  tired  ;it  them.  " 

The  enemy  had  heen  misinformed  ahout  the  defenses  of 
the  })lae(>,  and  espeeially  of  the  ;'.2-poun(:er.  and  suppcstd  there 
Wiis  nothing  to  he  feiired  in  the  w;iy  of  ordnance.  The  force 
at  thiit  time  in  town  was,  hesides  the  crew  of  ihe  Oneida,  the 
renimeiit  of  Colonel  Jk'llinnvr.  a  volunteer  company  of  artil- 
lery under  (aptain  (ami),  •'"<■  "  <i'\v  niilitia.      Captain  Wool- 


102  WAllS    AM>    lilMoKS    OK    WAliS. 

scy,  Iciiving  his  l.ri.u-  in  clwir^i"  oi"  u  lieutenant,  look  the  gvwvvn] 
con'i]iiiUi.l  on  shore,  the  ;52-i.()un(ler  heing  in  charge  of  Mr. 
William  Vaii-lK.n,  sailir.^'  master,  an<l  the  other  f-nns  under 
that  of  Captain  Cam]..  There  were  no  shot  in  town  larjier 
than  iM-i.onnd  halls,  whieh  were  used  (with  the  aid  of  luitehes 
formed  of  earpets),  in  the  ;52-poun<ler. 

Hv  the  time  these  arrangements   were  ma.le,  the  enemy 
had  arrive.l  within  jiun  shot,  nearly   in   front  of  the  hattery, 
when  the  aeti.-n  was  hegun,  the  first  shot  heinj,'  from  the  :V2- 
pounder  on  the  mound  ;  upon  whieh  a  shout  of  lauohter  was 
heard  from  the  fleet,  at  the  supposed  imheeile  attempt   at  re- 
sistance.    The  lire  was   returned   briskly,  and   continued  for 
two  hours,  all   of  the  enemy's   halls  hut    one   or   two,  falhns 
ao-ainst  the  roeks  at  the  foot  of  the  hlulV,  where  our  force  was 
shilioned.      One  hall  fell  near  hy,  an<l  plowed    uj.   the  oround 
for  some  distance.      It  was  canoht  up  just  when   it   had  spent 
its  force,  hv  a  man  wh..  came  runninj.-  in  and  shoulinj-' thnt  he 
had  "cauf^dit  them  out  :  "'  and  so  it  proved,  for   from  its  com- 
nmndinji-   position,  it  was  seen   ihr.t   onr  hi.u'  uun    UvA  ev(  ry 
advantage,  and  that  several  of  its  shots  told  with  ellect. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  action,  as  the  Uoyal  Ceorge,  the 
lla-ship.  was  wearino-  to  ^Wv  another  hroadside,  a  •24-pound 
shot  struck  her  stern,  rnd  rakc'd  her  whole  Icnj-th,  kilhufi 
eight  men,  an<l  do;n,u-  much  damage.  I'j.on  this  the  signal  ot 
retreat  was  given,  and  the  whole  tleet  hore  away  for  Kii-ston 
without  ceremonv.  At  this,  the  hand  on  shore  struck  up  the 
national  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle,  and  the  troops,  who  had 
throu-h  the  wln.le  alfair  hehaved  like  veterans,  sent  up  three 
che(>rs  of  vi<-tory.  Tlu>  shots  from  our  hattery  had  hroken 
their  chests  of  medicines,  their  fore  top-gallant  mast,  and  their 
vess.'ls  in  a  do/.cMi  jdaces,  while  the  enemy  broke  nothing  but 
— tlie  Sabbath.     In  a  letter  to  the  govevn(>r  of  July  2-tlh,  <ien- 


Waus  an'd  uuMons  ok  wars. 


103 


eral  Brown  attributed  tl.o  success  of  the  <lav  to  the  gallant 
spirit  of  Woolsey,    JJelliuMer  an.l   Camp,   in"  their  respective 
capacities,  and  especially  to  the  nice  shots  of  the  ::J2-pounder 
Mr.  Vau-han,  who  pointed   and  tire.l  this  piece,  claimed 
the  honor  of  having  fired   the  first  hostile  gun    in   the  war 
One  of  the  men  at   this  gun,  named   Julius  Torrv,  a   negro 
Ix-tter  kr.o.vn  as  Black  Julius,  aiul   a   great   favoi-ite   in   the 
camp,  served  at  his  p:.st  with   remarkable  activitv  and  cour- 
age.    As  there  was  no  opportunity  for  the  use  of\simdl  arms 
the  greater  j.art  of  the  troops  who  wre  drawn  up,  were  passive 
spectators  of  the  engagement. 


CAPTruK    ()!••   (iAXANOiai:. 

On  the  night  of  th,.  iXlth  uf  September,  an  expedition 
was  dispatched  from  Sackets  Jlari).)r,  which  is  thus  described 
by  (Jeneral  Brown,  in  his  report  to  the  governor: 

At  a  time  when   my  force   was   the  lightest,  an.l   a   verv 
considerable  alarm  prevaile.l  for  the  safety  of  that  port,  1  fitted 
out  a  secret  e.xpedition  under  the  command  „f  that   excellent 
oflicer.  Captain    Forsyth,  against  (ianano.pii,  a  small    British 
post,  twenty  miles  below  Kingston,  with  the  view  of  capturing 
some  ot  the  enemy's  ammunition,  of  which   we   were  and  are 
greatly  m  want,  and  of  alarming  them  as   much  as  possible 
t«'r  their  own    safety.       My   <,nler   was  c.xecuted    bv   Captain 
I'orsyth,  as  became  an  oflicer  and  a  soldier,  and  Captain  Mc- 
Nitt  and  Lieutenant  Brown  an.l  Knsigns   Hawkins  and  John- 
son, ol  the  militia,  who  volunteered  on    the  expedition,  are  re- 
JK.rtedto  me   by  Captain    Forsyth  as  .leserving  the   highest 


104 


WAIiS    AM>    lU  MOWS    (IF    WAIJS. 


pniisc  lor  tlicir  cool,  iutrcpid  valor  niul  piod  conduct,  'riiciv 
Wiis  not  :i  iiiiiu  but  did  Ids  duty.  ('a|it;nn  lM»rsytli  landed  in 
open  day,  two  miles  above  tlie  viilaj^'e;  bis  wliole  force 
ainountiuf'  to  ninety-live.  At  tliri'c-cpiarters  of  a  nnle  be  met 
two  liorsemen,  one  of  wli(tin  was  ])rol)ably  sbut,  tlu'  otb(>r  fled 
to  tbo  villa<i'e,  wbere  Captain  Forsytb  found  on  liis  arrival  (be 
enemy  drawn  uj)  in  order  of  battle.  110  sti'oiifi',  and  upon  bis 
approacli  tlu'V  commenced  a  beavy  lire  upon  bim,  but  over.  He 
rusbed  immediately  on,  witbout  liriniLi',  until  witbin  100 yards, 
wbon  bis  party  made  a  few  deliberate  sbots,  tben  i-usbed  on, 
and  broke  tbe  enemy,  drove  Ibem  across  a  bridj^c,  wbieb,  for 
bis  bettei' secui'ity,  ( 'aptain  l"'oi'sytb  broke  uj).  lie  bad  one 
man  killed  and  one  wounded.  'Pbe  loss  of  tbe  enemy,  in 
killed,  Captain  Korsytb  lias  (U'clined  statin^-,  but  frf)m  tbebe'st 
information  I  can  collect  from  tbe  party,  it  was  from  ten  to 
fifteen.  Twelve  prisoners  wvw  taken,  o,000  ball  cartridjics 
and  41  muski'ts.  Tbere  were  in  tbe  kinji's  store  about  l."() 
barrels  of  provisions,  and  as  tbere  were  no  l)oats  to  brinji' it 
away  it  was  consumed  by  fire.  to,i>-i'tber  witb  tbe  store.  Private 
property  was  beld  sncrod.  To  tbe  soldit'is  on  tbis  expedition, 
I  bave  presented  tbe  pul)lic  ])i'opei'ty  taken,  as  a  I'cward  for 
tbeir  valor  and  uood  conduct.  I  wisb  your  excellency  to  ap- 
])robate  or  disapprobate  tiiis  my  donation  to  tbese  brave  men. 
Your  excellencv  must  bear  in  mind,  tbat  witb  my  very  little 
bi'iyadc,  oral  b(>st  a  part  of  tbat  iit  ( )swefio,  I  bave  been  put 
upon  tbe  <lefeiise  of  tbis  nortbern  frontier,  from  St.  Ivcjiis  to 
near  <  )swe<^d.  Tbe  men  tbal  1  bave  tbe  lionor  to  connnand, 
bave  tlone  and  sullere(l  mucli  foi'  tbe  militia  ;  tbeir  clotbes 
generally  were  in  tatters  and  tbey  are  poor  men.  Tbey  can 
not  clotbe  Ibemselves  in  tbis  region  for  ,^(l.(i()  per  nionlb,  and 
it  is  not  in  lumian  nature  tbat  tbese  men  can  endure  a  winter 
CiMiiiiaigiiii!  tills  diinnlo  tliiis  clad,     F  ('i;ii  not  believe  lbii|; 


WAl;s    AM)    IMMOIiS    ()|-    WAIiS.  ]()-, 

tl.cs.  nuM,  w<H.l.l  N.Mv,.  nu.;  it  w.uM  grieve  na- if  tiu-v  sl.nuM  • 
"ut  >t  IS  M  stain  u)..),,  (Mir  unfunvM  chnnu-tcT.  t.'.nt  tlu-  citi/fi, 
«ol.lu.r  ofthis  country  shonl.I  I,,  u-n.-s.  paid  ,,ul  provhU.!  Cor, 
tliiiii  any  (.tlu-r  class  iiinoiii.- MS. 


HKDOIP.TAIU.K    KINCSTf )N-. 


(V)inin;.;l(.n'  Cliauiiccv  liavinn-  tal. 


Falso  Ducks  fell 


.•hasod  hor  into  tlic  hay  of  q 


in    witli    the    {{oval    ( 


l<c'ii  a   station   near  tlu 


"coriic 


2() 


gun.'' 


anil 


iii^^lit.     On  til 


wliicli 


e  morning  (»f  tlu-  lOth,  he  tool. 


uinlc,  where  she  was   lost  in  the 


K  ;i  sin  a  I 


Ik-  hurned,  havinj.'  ,i.(,t  sij.ht  of  the  Roval  ( 


scliooner, 


he  followed  into  Kingston   harhor  and 


hutte 


nt's  un   hour  and    fortv-l 


icorjie  whic!> 
t'li^aj-'ed   her   and  the 


■stronger  tl 


liin  antici|»ate<l,  niyht  coi 


ive  minutes,  Init   tindintj   tl 


lese 


J>l<>win<.' in,  he  stood  off  and  anchored/    I 


wind  continued 


nmg  on  find  a  pile  of  wind 
M    the   niornint'-  the 


<>  stronu'  in  shore  that  h(>  thought   it 


•h'lit  t()hazar<l  an   attack,  and  heal 
the  Sinicoe,  an<l  chased  her  over 
iihled  her  with  shot,  that  si 
the  (lock. 


ini])ru- 
<'ut  and  soon  fell  in  with 
ri'cf  of  rocks,  hut 


so    (ll.S- 


ic  sank  hefore  wttiiip-  al 


oimside 


of 


On  the 


from  Xiayara  hound 


'>'>'''nnM-  of  the   Kith,  he   took   a   li 


in,  and  the  next  m 


irije  schooner 


prize  under  convoy  (,f  the   (irowh 


ornino-  sent  down  the 


tiic  ship  to  follow,  hut  without 


r,  past    Kiuyston.  to  ind 


uce 


as  hoisterous  ;  on  the  i;>tl 


success.     The  ui.tilit  of  the  llth 


the  14th  it  continued    t( 


I  was  a  severe  snow  storm,  and 


on 


niamder  of  this  crii 


»   snow  fast,  hut    littl 


c   wind 


'J^l 


ChauiuH-y,  in  a  letter  to  tl 


ise  we  give  in  the  laumi, 


le  re- 


lyc  of  Commodon 


10  governor 


T!!'>  (ii-owl(M-  rviit  tiio  prizo  it),  nii(|  stood  in  for  (!u> 


loO 


\VAl;S    AXn   lll'MOHS   01'   WAliS. 


I)iK'ks.  whovo  ho  Iiiid  orders  to  join  inc.  Near  tlic  Ducks,  lie 
ibll  ill  with  the  Ivirl  oi'MoirM,  coiivoyiiir!;  tlio  skiop  Elizahctli 
from  York  to  Kiii«;',stoii.  Siiiliiij;-  ^hlstel•  Mix,  who  coiniiiaiKU'd 
the  (irowler,  run  down  in  a  very  gallant  nianncr  and  took 
|){)s-;i'ssioii  of  till'  Klizalx'th  within  two  niih's  of  tlio  ship,  and 
hrouL!,!it  hor  in.  I  ininicdiatt'ly  wcifiiicd  and  stood  for  Kinfj;s- 
toii  in  hopes  to  cut  her  off,  hut  the  ck'incnts  were  af^ainst  nie 
a<;ain,  tor  I  scarcely  had  left  the  liarhor  l)efore  it  hlew  a  galo 
of  wind,  and  snowed  so  thick  that  we  frecpiently  could  not  see 
a  mile.  We,  however,  persevered  to  the  ureat  (hinj>er  of  the 
vessels  and  lives  of  the  crews.  On"  the  14tli  we  j^ot  sij>ht  of 
the  Karl  of  Moira  enterinj'-  Kiiifiston  liarhor,  l)Ut  it  hlowiiif;  a 
gale  of  wind,  we  concluded  not  to  follow,  and  after  heating 
ahout  almost  all  that  day,  I  made  the  signal  for  all  the  squad- 
ron to  hear  for  this  place,  where  we  arrived  on  the  same  even- 
ing. During  these  two  short  cruises  we  captured  three  vessels, 
two  have  arrived,  one  we  hurned,  a  fourth  was  so  jnjured  that 
she  sunk,  and  we  learn  from  one  who  came  in  the  Hags  yes- 
terday, that  the  Koyal  (ieorge  was  so  much  injured  that  she 
had  to  haul  on  shore  to  keep  from  sinking,  having  received 
several  shots  hetween  wind  and  weather,  several  guns  disahlcd, 
and  a  numher  of  persons  killed  or  wounded,  hesides  consider- 
ahle  injury  (though  not  intentional)  to  the  town.  Amongst 
the  prisoners  is  Captain  Brock  of  the  'iUth  regiment,  and  a 
relative  of  the  late  (Jeiieral  Mrock,  who  was  returning  from. 
York  with  jiart  of  the  haggage  of  his  deceased  friend.  Our 
lo.ss  was  trilling  ;  one  man  killed  and  four  wounded,  two  of  the 
latter  hy  tlu'  hurstiiig  of  a  gun  on  hoard  of  t!ie  Pert,  the  com- 
mander of  which  vessel,  Mr.  Arunchill,  was  knocked  overhoard 
and  drowned.  The  damage  done  to  the  rigging  and  sails  not 
much,  and  a  few  shots  in  the  hulls  (»f  one  of  the  ve.s.sels,  hut 
the  injury  from  which  was  soon   repaired.     The  (Jov.  Tomp- 


WAlJS    AN'D    UrMO]{S    OF    WATfS. 


107 


kins,  Ilamilton,  Conquost  a.i.l  (Jrowlor  arc  now  blockading 
tlH"  vessels  ,n  Kn.j.ston.  I  am  now  taking  on  l.oanl  guns  and 
stoivs  f„r  Xmgara,  for  which  place  I  shall  sail  the  Hrst  wind 
•"  <->"I>any  with  the  Julia.  iVrt,  Fair  American,  Ontario  and 
N-ourge,  and  I  am  in  g.eat  hopes  that  I  shall  fall  in  with  the 
I  nnce  Regent,  or  some  of  the  royal  familv  which  are  cruising 
al.out  \„rk.  Had  we  Inrn  one  month  sooner  we  couhl  havo 
taken  every  town  on  this  lake  in  three  weeks,  but  the  season 
>s  now  so  tempestuous  that  I  am  ap,,rehensivu  wo  can  not  do 
•""'••'"n.re  this  wint.T.  I  an.  however,  readv  to  co-operato 
Nv.th  the  army,  and  .nir  ollicers  and  men  are  anxious  to  be 
engaged.  " 

This  brilliant  maneuver  conferred  great  credit  upon  those 
('Mgaged,  and  called  public  attention  to  th,.  operations  on  this 
♦•■••"t.er,  as  lik.-ly  to   alfor.l  a  tlu-ater   for  decls   of  valor,  that 
would  confer  honor  upon   the  American    na.ne.     'J'he  sj.irited 
nigagement    in    Kingston    harlmr    has    been    compared     bv 
(Vx.per,  to  the  assault  upon  Tripoli,  in   <.ur  previous  war  with 
the  Harbary  Stat.'s.  to  which  it  was  not   in   the  least  inferior 
due  allowance  being  made  for  (he  comparative  force  emplovcd.' 
I  Ik>  tact  ot  the  Royal  ( Jeorge,  which  was  bv  nuich  the  largest 
vessel  that  had  then  been  built  on  our  inland  waters,  retiring 
H'forethe  Oneida,  has    been   ascrilH-d,  by   Cooper,  to  her   not 
being   pr..,.erly  ..tHcer.Ml.     The-    Hritish    had   not  then   made 
then' drafts  upon  the  royal  navy  for  (he  service  of  the  lakes. 
The  bones  of  the  Oni'ida  lie  in  (he   French  Creek    Bay  in 
.sightof,meofhercon.,ues(s.     The   people  of  Clavt.ai  should 
be  i.atnotic  enough  to  see  (hat  what   is  lef(   of  Irt  sh.mld  bo 


•<ui(ably  preserved  jus(  as  (1 


steps  to  preserve 
'  Old  Ironsides. 


(he  { 


government   has  ahvadv  taken 


onstitution  inunor(alized  in  tl 


le  poem  as 


SKfOXl)    r.ATTI.K    AT    SACKKTS    lIAliliOlf. 


stofl'S  col- 

tlic  riini- 


Tlic  (loscont  uiKiii  York  jtiovokcd  tlic  ri'scntincnt  (A'  the 
ciuMuy,  who,  kiio\viii«i'  tliiit  Siickcts  Ilarlxir  luid  liccn  wciik- 
C'lU'd  by  till'  \vitli<Irii\V!il  of  troops  to  tlic  Niiijiiirii,  |iliiinic(l  mii 
attack  upon  tlic  ioiiiicr,  well  kiiowiiifi'  tliat  the  capture  or 
destruction  of  tlic  vessels  there  liuildinfi'.  aii<l  the 
lected,  would  at  once  <;ive  theiii  the  supremacy  in 
])aiji;n,  and  cficctually  su])pressany  furthei"  otl'cnsive  o])erations 
of  the  Americans  for  some  time. 

Sackets  Ilarhoi'  was  at  this  time  hut  poorly  prepared  for 
defense.  Fort  Tompkins,  occupying'  the  site  of  the  i)resei\t 
residence  of  the  commandin<;'  oflicer  of  the  station,  was  manned 
by  about  two  hundred  dismounted  drajiooiis.  inider  Colonel 
iJackus,  a  detachment  of  forty  or  fifty  artillerists,  under  i.ieu- 
tenant  Ketchum,  and  seventy  or  eijj,lity  infantry  invalids,  re- 
cruits and  parts  of  companies.  A  little  cast  of  the  villaji'e  was 
Fort  \'olunteer,  a  slijiht  woik  that  had  been  chielly  ei'ccted  by 
a  company  of  exempts,  (icneral  Hearborn  had  written  to 
IJrigadier-dencral  Jirown,  to  assume  the  command  and  maki' 
provisions  for  a  defense,  which  k'ttei-  was  not  answered  from 
motives  of  delicacy  toward  Colonel  liackus,  but  ]ire])arations 
were  made  for  resistcuce,  if  required. 

Between  the  village  and  Horse  Island,  a  mile  distant,  was 
a  thin  wood  that  had  been  ])artly  cut  over,  and  wastdletl  with 
brush,  logs  and  .stumps.     ( )i)posite  the  island  was  a   cleai-inji 


of  about  four  acres,   and   tlio  island    it,' 


which    emiiraces 


twenty-nine  acres,  and   lies  at  the  entrance  of  the  biiy,  was 
covered  with  a  i^rowth  of  timber,  and  at   that  time   connected 


WAKS    ANI»    UlWtoHS    OF    \VA|{^ 

with  the  nmii)  laiid   hv  n  bar   tliat   aflordcd 


100 

a  cntssiiijr,  neurlv 


t'li  as  now 


or  (juitt'  dry.  'IMu'  hcacli  opposite  was  coiiipost'd,  th 
of  a  ridfr,'  (.1"  j.rav('l,  wliicli  at  tiiat  tiiiio  made  a  natural  breast- 
work, four  or  five  feet  liigli.  A  short  (hstauee  l)aek  and  fur- 
tlier  south  on  the  shore,  a  strip  of  woods  extended,  which  had 
been  ol.strueted  as  much  as  possihh'  several  days  previous,  l)y 
feniiij«-  trees  in  every  directi<»n. 

The  enemy  having'  made  prei)arations  at  Kingston  for  an 
attack,  emliarked  1,"2()0  men.  under  Sir  (ieorge  IVevost,  on  the 

■1 


<»lte,  a  new  vesse 


cuing  of  May -iTtf),  on  hoani  tiie  shii)s  \V 
of  -24  guns;  the  Royal  (leorge,  24  guns;  the  brig  Karl  of 
Moira,  IS  guns  ;  and  the  schooners  Prince  Kegent,  Sinicoe 
and  Seiu'ca,  mounting  each  several  guns;  two  gun  boats,  and 


about  fortv  barges  under  Sii-  ,1 


imes   L.  Veo  ;  and   on   the  fol- 


lowing morning  (Friday,  May  2Sth)  appeared  in  the  offing, 
having  bc-n  discovere<l  by  the  schooner  Lady  of  the  Lake, 
that  had  been  cruising  on  the  lake  to  watch  the  motions  of 
the  enemy. 

As  tiiis  ves,«el  came  in,  signal  guns  were  tired,  and  u|)on 
her  arrival  Colonel  Backus  dispatched  an  express  to  (ieneral 
lirown,  who,  since  the  expiration  of  his  six  months'  term,  had 
been  residing  on  his  farm  in  Hrownville,  eight  miles  from  the 
harbor.  lie  immediately  rej.aired  to  that  place,  and  i.ssued 
ry  orders  for  rallying  the  neighboring  militia,  and  pre 


sunnna 


paring  the  place  for  defense.  Alarm  guns  were  fired  and 
dragoons  dispatched  in  every  direction  to  hasten  the  arrival  of 
succor,  and  especially  that  of  Colonel  Tuttle,  who  was  known 
to  be  advancing  with  several  hundred  regulars.  No  binding 
was  attempted  by  the  enemy  on  the2Sth,  their  attention  being 
drawn  oil'  by  a  Heel  of  American  barges  from  Oswego,  of 
which  twelve  were  taken,  their  crews  having  lied  to  the  woods, 
uiul  seven,  by  outsailing  the  enemy  got  safely  into  i>ort,  thus 


110 


WAHS    AND    lUMoKS   OK    NVAIiS. 


iiKTcnsin^  tlic  (lisjMtstil>l(>  t'orcc  of  (icncnil  IJidwii.  Tlicsc  re- 
cruits jn'ovcd  t(»  lu'  a  piirt  of  ii  ic^imcul  of  iiil'imlrv  under 
Colonel  Aspinwall,  on  liis  wiiv  l».v  water  I'roni  Oswcfi'o  to  Saek- 
ets  Ilarlxtr,  wlat  did  not  discover  the  eiieiny  until  lie  was 
doublinjjj  Six  Town  I'oint.  As  tlie  i'<iut('  of  those  that  landed 
WHS  very  circuitous,  tiiey  did  not  arrive  until  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening. 

The  militia  soon  bejian  to  asseinhle,  and  as  last  as  they 
arrived  they  were  armed  and  sent  to  Horse  Island,  which  was 
tlie  point  at  which  the  enemy  was  expected  to  land.  The  num- 
ber that  came  in  durinj>-  the  day  was  al)out  (>(((»,  tVcsli  trom 
their  homes,  and  without  discipline,  experience  or  oijiani/.a- 
tion,  and  altlutugh  not  wanting'  in  patriotism  or  courage,  yet 
lacked  that  assurance  which  an  accpiaintance  with  military 
ail'airs  can  alone  confer.  'J'hese,  with  about  30(1  regulars  and 
lUO  of  Asj)inwairs  party  fatigued  with  their  day's  inarch, 
comprised  the  force  l»y  which  the  enemy  wen'  to  be  opposed. 

The  night  was  spent  by  (Jeneral  Hrown  in  making  dipo- 
sitions  for  the  attack  which  circumstances  rendered  highly 
probable  would  be  made  where  the  militia  had  been  jtosted. 
The  shore  for  most  of  tlie  way  between  this  place  and  the  vil- 
lage is  an  abrupt  i)reci}>ice,  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  high  ;  aiul 
the  fleet  to  land  a1)0ve  the  village,  nuist  have  to  pass  the  bat- 
teries on  shore  and  would  re*|uire  a  favorable  wind.  luring 
the  night  the  enemy  landed  about  forty  Indians  un<ler  Lieu- 
tenant Anderson  on  the  main  land  in  Henderson  bay  with  the 
view  of  attacking  the  rear  of  the  militia,  and  towards  morning 
the  militia  were  witlulrawn  from  the  isbuid  to  the  shore  oppo- 
site.    Camp  tires  had  been  built  along  the  shoi-e  eaily    in  the 


ev 


ennig 
About 


but  the.se  were  ordered  to  be  nut  out 


P 
400    militia   with    a    six-pounder,   under  (  ol(  nel 

Mills,  of  the  Albany  volunteers,  were  stationed   near  the  shore 


W.VIfS    ANM)    KIMOHS    oK    W  A  i{S. 


Ill 


(•|»|M>silc  tlic  isliiiid  with  orders  tu  reserve  tlieir  lire  until  the 
enemy  sliould  !i|)|ii-(»neii  witliiii  pistol  shot.  The  remainder 
of  the  niihtiM  under  Colonel  ( iershom  Tnttle.  were  |»osted  in 
the  edj.c  (»f  the  woods  hnek  of  the  elefirinj>'.  and  Colonel  Back- 
us with  his  dismounted  dragoons  was  stationed  in  the  skirt  of 
tlu  woods  near  the  vijlaj^c  with  orders  to  advance  through  the 
woods  towards  Horse  'shind  the  moment  it  was  known  that 
the  enemy  had  landed.  Colonel  Aspinwali  with  his  men  wa.s 
posted  to  the  left  of  liackus.  and  the  artillerists  under  Lieuti 
mt  Ketchum  'ere  stationed  in  Fort  Tom|)kins,  with  no  oti 


11- 
)er 


tl 


lan  a  .")'J-poi  ider  mounted  on  a  pivot.  The  militia  on  the 
shore  were  d"'-ected  that,  in  case  of  hein^r  driven  from  their 
position,  the\  'iKadd  fall  hack  into  the  woods  and  annoy  the 
ri^ht  flank  of  the  enemy  as  he  advanced  towards  the  town. 
Colonel  Tuttle  was  directed  in  the  same  event  to  attack  their 
rear  and  destroy  their  hoats.  'i'he  niyht  was  spent  in  making 
these  arrangements  and  all  parties  anxiou,«ly  awaited  the  ap- 
jiroach  of  day. 

The  morning  of  the  'iDth  dawned  heautifully  clear  and 
calm.  Not  a  hreath  of  air  ruffled  the  i)lacid  surface  of  the 
lake,  and  there  existed  that  peculiar  .state  of  density  and  uni- 
formity in  the  atmosphere,  in  which  sounds  are  i)ropagatod  to 
a  great  distance,  as  is  .sometimes  noticed  hefore  a  storm  ;  and 
the  repoit  of  small  arms  in  the  action  which  followed,  wa.s 
hcird  with  remarkahle  distinctness  on  the  hills  in  Kutlaiid; 
while  till' discharge  of  cannon  echoed  clear  and  far  over  the 
country,  to  distances  since  uiipa -alleled,  and  was  heard 
through  Lewis  and  even  in  Oneida  County.  This  very  natu- 
rally e.xcited  throughout  the  <-ountry  the  greate.«t  anxiety  and 
alarm  and  the  .solicitude  of  families  for  the  fate  of  fathers,  hu,s- 
haiids  and  sons,  who  had  hoon  hastily  sumiiioned  from  hume, 


112 


WAUS    AN!)    KINfOns    (»K    WAllS. 


was  sucli  a.s  i-ould  scarcely  ciKlurc  tlic  sus|iciisc  wliicli  it  (tcca- 
sioiu'd. 

Tlio  calm  |)n'V('ntc(l  the  ciiciny  fn»in  ln'iiijriiiji;  tlicir  ves- 
sels to  co-operate  in  the  attack,  and  was  one  of  llie  causes  that 
inlliienced  their  suhse<|uent  retreat.  As  soon  as  it  was  lij-lit, 
the  enemy  was  seen  a|»|»r»»achinff  in  thirly-tliree  lai'^e  hoats 
under  cover  of  ^unlxtals,  directinj'  their  course  to  the  outside 
of  the  island,  where  they  landed  and  tbrined  without  ((pposi- 
tiun  ;  hut  in  crossin^r  the  har  that  connected  it  with  the  nuiin 
land  they  (M>countere<l  a  yallinji;  lire  and  lost  several  in  killed 
and  wounded,  whidi  they  suhse».|uently  carried  oH.  As  the 
landing'  was  heing  effected,  the  heavy  gun  in  lM»rt  'I'ompkins 
was  hntught  to  hear  with  ectnsiderahle  elfect  ujKjn  the  enemy's 
column. 

The  fire  of  the  militia  was  at  first  well  directed  and  dead- 
ly and  was  answered  hy  discharges  of  musketry  and  hy  two 
small  cannon  loaded  with  grape  shot;  hut  Colonel  Mills,  who 
was  stationed  a  short  distance  towards  the  village  with  his  can- 
non fell  early  in  the  engagement,  and  his  death,  with  the  un- 
nccu.stomed  whistling  of  halls  that  cut  down  the  hranches  of 
the  trees  around  them,  struck  with  terror  the  inexperienced 
militia  and  without  waiting  to  return  the  tire  or  recover  from 
the  panic,  they  turned  and  fled  towards  the  town  in  the  great- 
est confusion.  This  retreat  was  not  entirely  general.  Captain 
Samuel  McNitt,  who  had  been  stationed  with  his  company  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  flanking  party  of  the  militia,  not  notic- 
ing the  movements  of  his  conn'ades,  continued  his  firing  after 
some  moments  longer,  and  before  he  was  aware  he  found  him- 
.sclf  and  his  party  alone  and  in  danger  of  being  cut  off  by  the 
enemy.  General  iirown  finding  himself  nearly  alone  with  no 
support  but  this  company,  retired  towards  tlie  village,  directing 
those  that  could  be  ralli(>(l  to  annoy  the  advancing  column  of 


WAijs  AND  l;t•^rons  of  watjs. 


113 


tlic  ciicliiy  IIS  iiiiicli  IIS  |)ussililc.  'I'lic  ciiciny,  liiiviii}^-  {^nilicd 
the  Itfiich  and  (lispcrscd  tlic  militia.  I'urmcd  in  «i(M  i  order  and 
niai'cliffl  tdwai'ds  tlic  town. 

'I'hcy  were  soun  nit't  liy  the  troops  (»f  ( 'oloncl  llackus,  wlio 
had  advan('c(|  to  dispntc  tiirir  j»i'o<irrss  and  \vli(t  j^allantly  cn- 
conntfrcd  and  rctni'ncd  tlicir  lii-c.  rrtiriny  slowly  hclorc  tlicni 
tlironyli  tlir  liair  cleared  woods.  ( 


iciicra 


1  lU 


own  liad  siicccencil 


in  i'allyin<i'  aUont  a  iinndrcd  militia  with  the  aid  of  Calel) 
Westcott,  a  citizen,  and  others,  and  had  joined  the  detachment 
of  Backus  :  hut  at  this  juncture,  ha|)|ienin;>- to  look  towards  the 
shipyard,  he  was  surprised  to  see  liu;;-e  volumes  of  smoke  issu- 
ing- from  the  storehouses  that  c(aitaine<l  the  spoils  of  ^'ork. 
Not  knowin<>-  hut  that  ilie  enemy  nii<iht  have  j^ained  his  real', 
he  hastened  to  the  spot  and  ascertained  that  the  disastrous 
panic  of  the  militia  had  i)eeii  communicated  to  tho.se  in  cliarjic 
and  a  report  had  reached  l-ieuteiiaiit  Chauncey  of  the  navy 
that  all  was  lost,  and  upon  the  faith  of  this  rumor  he  had  ^iveii 
orders  to  lire  the  huildin<>s,  an  act  which  the  most  extremo 
and  desperate  i.ssue  of  affairs  could  alone  justify.  Learninjf 
the  cause  of  the  conllanration  and  somewhat  relieved  by  the 
kiiowledo-e  that  the  enemy  were  still  hut  on  one  side,  lie  re- 
turned, oivinj;'  directions  to  IJeuteiiant  Ki'tehum  in  Fort  Tomp- 
kins to  hold    that    |)ost   as   lon^- as  the    flam 


es  would  porniit. 
'i'he  reji'ulars  of  Colonel  liackus  felt  their  courii;;e  renewed 
upon  learning-  tlu'  nature  of  the  accident  that  had  given  a 
natural  alarm,  and  continued  steadily  to  ojipose  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  who  had  now  gained  tln'  clearing  next  the  vil- 
lage. \'ery  soon  after  (  oloiiel  Uackus  fell  mortally  wounded 
and  w.is  home  oil'  the  field  ;  his  troops  taking  ]>().s,se.ssion  ol 
some  log  harracks  and  continuing  their  resistance. 

The  enemy  had    throughout   evinced  great  courage  and 
coolness  and  were  under  the   immediate  command  of  Captain 


114  WAliS    AND    ItrMOHS    OT    WAltS. 

Gray,  of  the  quartonnastcr-ovncrnrs  (Icpaitinciit,  wlio  was  ad- 
vancing in  front  of  tlu-  ranks  and  walkin.^  backwards  waving 
his  sword  for  his  troops  to  follow,  and  slionting,  "  (V.nuM)n, 
boys  ;  the  day  is  ours  !  RcnuMulnM'  York  1  "  when  he  sudden- 
ly fell  wounded  and  i'liniediately  expired. 

At  this  moment  the  signal  for  retreat  was  given  from  the 
fleet  and  the  enemy  hastily  retreated  to  their   boats.     This  re- 
treat is  said  to  have  been  in  ])art   eaused  by  hearing  a   report 
of  small  arms  on  the  right  from  the  rallied  militia,  but  wliieh 
the  enemy  mistook  for  a  reinforcement  of   4r)()  regulars  which 
they  had  leai-ned    was   advancing   under  Colonel    Tuttle,  and 
was  then  within  a  mile  of  the  place.     Their  arrival    would  at 
once  put  an  end  to  the  contest  by   giving  us   the  advantage  of 
numher.s.     The  enemy  on  their  retreat  removed  a  part  of  their 
wounded,  :Mid  having  re-embarked,   they   at   about  10  o'clock 
sent  a  flag  demanding  a  surrender  of  the  jilace  which  they  had 
been  unable  to  capture   and    were   of  course   refused.     They, 
however,  were  promised  that  decent  attention    should   l)e  ])aid 
to  the  dead   and   humane   treatment   to  the  wovuided.     They 
shortly  after  sent  another  flag  reipiesting  to   send   surgeons  to 
their  woumleil,  which  was  denied,  as  tiiey    still    seemed  not  to 
have  almndon('(l  the  nttack  and  were  laying  Ity  in  their  barges, 
but  shortly  after  they  |.ut  oil'  to  the  licet  which  lay    about  live 
miles  from  the  town,  and  made  sail  for    Kingston.       i>oth   Sir 
(teorge  l'rev(jst  an<l  Sir  .lames  Yeo   are   said    to   have    landed 
during  the  engagement. 

The  loss  of  the  British  was  ir.d  in  killed  and  wounded; 
•25  of  their  [»ri vales  went  found  ilead.  "2  captains  an<l  'iO  pri- 
vates were  wounded  and  including  the  wountled,  2  captains,  1 
ensign  and  32  privates  were  taken  ])risoneis.  Our  lo.ss  was 
loO  killed,  wouuded   and   missing.      Th«  enemy   took  a   few 


-\ 


WAKS    AND    KIMOHS    ()|'    WAIiS. 

])risoiU'rs  and  one  niaii  was  louiid    killed    and 
woods  I)v  tlu'  Indians. 


scalpt'd 


in  tl 


It' 


The  flames  of  the  hurninsj:  stoi 


cs  were  s 


uhd 


ns  possibU',  hut  not  till  thev  had 


ued  as( 


I  nick  I' 


(••insunied    half  a    million  of 


dollars'  wortli  of  property.     The  ship  i'ike,  then  on  the  stocks 
was  .sav(>d.      The  j.rize  schooner,  the   Duke  of  (ih.ucest 


avcd 


IT,  was 


».v  Lieutenant  Talman.  of  ih 


tin^aiishiii^-  the  lire  and  hrouuht  her  f 

the  store   houses.     This  heroie   (onduet    will    h 


ic  ai-mv,  who  hoai-ded  it,  ex- 


rom  under  the  flames  of 

appi'eeiated 

irj.;-e  (piantity  of  gunpowder  was  on 


when  it  is  known  that  a  li 

board.       Tne   sehooiiers    Kair   Aineriean   and    j'erl,  cut    their 

cables  and  retreated  up  the  river  and 


■<('Vc>ral   of  the 


Navy  I'oint  W(M'e  spiked.      Had  it  not  l;een   for  this  d 
mistake  our  suecos  would  have  been  complete.    Colonel  Haek- 


^uns  on 
isa.^rous 


us  survived  eiiiht  dav; 


and  h 


tain 


eu 


»ut  bl( 


lopes  of  his    reeoverv  wwo  eiiter- 


-jioisoii  supervened. 


l'HI\-.\  ri:i;i;i.\(;. 

Oil  the  14th  of  .[uly,  ISi:',,  tl„>  Neptune  and  Fox.  (he  for- 
mer a  private  armed  boat  under  Captain  Samuel  Dixon, 
mounted  with  one  six-pounder  and  one  swivel,  and  manned 
by  twenty-four  volunteers,  and  the  latter  a  public  armed  boat 
under  Captain  Diniock,  with  a  <letachmeiit  of  twenty-one  men 
from  the  L>lsl  regiment  of  infantry  under  Lieutenants  Burbank 
and  Perry,  .sailed  from  Saekets  l!aib(.r  with  lA'(hTs<»f  Manjue 
from  the  deputy  colleeior  of  the  district  for  a  ernise  on  the  St. 
Lawrence.  This  privateiM-iii--'  expedition  w.is  lilted  out  by 
M.  W.  Gilbert  and  others  and  had  for  its  object  the  cutting  off 


116 


WAKS  Axn  i!i'>ror>s  or  waks. 


of  a  <l('tju'liiiit'iit  of  the  ciu'iny's  lioats  tliat  were  expected  up 
till'  river  laden  with  stores.  Ai'tt  r  tuiiehiiiji- at  ('apt'  N'iiieont 
and  French  Creek,  tiiev  selected  on  the  nioi'ninji'  of  the  17th  a 
(piii't  nook  in  a  creek  anion<;-  the  Thousand  Islands,  where 
tiiey  landed  tor  nuister  and  I'eview  :  and  the  morning'  beinjjj 
particularly  pleasant,  they  eniploye<l  themselves  in  drying- and 
puttinj^i  in  complete  oi-dcr  their  arms  and  ammuiution  and 
cleanin<>-  out  their  Imats.  while  a  small  boat  of  each  was  sent 
out  for  intelli^-ence,  which  returned  without  jiaining  any 
news.  At  II  p.  m.  tlu'V  hauled  from  the  shore,  manned  a 
•iuai'd  boat  to  prevent  surprise,  and  sent  Lii'Utenant  Jliiwkins 
to  Ofidenshurji' for  intelli<i('nce  :  and  at  ">  p.  m.  Messrs.  IJaldwiu 
and  Camphi'll  arrived  with  news.  ,\t  U  they  left  ('raid)eriT 
Ci-cck  and  at  4  a.  m.  of  the  ISth  saw  a  lirijiade  of  British 
Itateau.x  convoyed  l»y  his  majesty's  j^unhoat,  the  Spitfire,  lyin<>' 
at  Sinnuitnd's  I.amlinn',  pi-eparinj^'  to  sail  for  Kinuston.  I'pou 
this,  they  |)Ush<'d  in  for  shore  and  so  com|)letely  surprised 
them  that  very  few  of  the  enemy  e.>^cape(|.  The  liflei'U  bateaux 
and  the  <iunl)oat  wci'e  at  once  seized  without  a  shot  beiu}^ 
lii'cd  on  either  side.  Trevious  to  the  attack  Lieutenant  Perry, 
of  till' l*th.  and  Serticant  .lames,  of  Forsyth's  company,  with 
27  volunteers  were  landi'd  in  <'ranberry  Creek  in  Alexandria, 
and  at  I  1  sixty-nine  |>risoners  were  sent  oil  to  the  harbor 
under  una  I'd  of  1")  men  of  the   21st    in   chariie   of  Lieutenant 


M 


uriiauK. 


Tl 


le  Spitlir 


e  was 


armed  with  a  12-pound  cai'i'onade 


and  14  men  with  a  lar^c  (piantity  of  military  stores.  The 
bateaux  had  270  barrels  of  pork  and  27(1  bags  of  pilot  bread 
which  was  landed  on  the  2iUli  to  prevent  spoiling,  and  a  re- 
(pu'st  to  the  neighboring  inhabitants  for  as>istance  was  sent 
out,  which  brought  in  a  few  militia,  who,  however,  mostly- 
left  the  same  night.  At  simi'ise  on  the  21sl  the  enemy  to  tho 
number  oi  2."'»(l,  with  four  gunboats  and  one  or  two  transports, 


WARS   AXD    IirMORS    OF    WAHS. 


117 


were  discovered  in   tlio  creek  ;  these  weiv   met  by  thirty  ineii 
and  attucke<l  while  hindiiig,   twenty   more  heinf>-  stiitioiied  in 
different  phiees  to  prevent  their approiieii.     A  eiinnonadeeom- 
nienced  and  was  kept  up  some  time;  two  of  the  enemy's  boats 
were  so  injured  from  our  fire  that   most  of  their  crews  were 
compelh'd  U)  U-ave  them  and   to  cut   fiajis  from   tiie   shore  to 
stop  the  hoh's.      At  C  a.  m.    the  enemy    retired    to  their  boits 
and  sent  a  (Ia,i>'  with  the  (k'lnand  of  surreiwh-r  to  save  the  effu- 
sion of  blood,  which  was  instantly   rejected  and  the   firini,^  re- 
commenced.     It  appeared  that   this    was  i)ut  an   expedient  to 
giuu  time,  as  the  enemy  hastily  retreatetl   carryinji'  their  dead 
and  wounded.     Their  loss  must  have   been  c(.nsi(ieral)le  from 
the  quantity  of  blood  seen    where   they  embarked.     Our  loss 
was  three  killed  and    wounded.      After   the   action   trees   were 
felled  across  the  road  and  creek  to   prevent.a  new  attack,  and 
on  the  aftei-noon  of  the  next  day    reinforcements  arrived,  the 
boats  which  had  been  scuttled  were  repaired   and   on    the  'I'M 
they  left  for  Sackets  IIari)or,  where  they  arrived  on  the  -iTth. 
While  passiufv  Tibbet's    Toint    they   encountered    the    Karl  of 
Moira,  were  pursued  and  hit   .several   times   by   her  shot,  but 
not  captured.     The  i-uni»oat  and  .several   bateaux    were  sunk 
without  consnltiny-  Captains  Dimick  or  Dixon  and  the  owners 
ultimately  lost  most  that  was  j;ained  by  the  expedition. 


.V    inoT. 


The  armaments  of  the  small  vessels  were  abandoned  early 
in  the  sea.son  and  they  were  used  mostly  as  transports.  On  the 
first  of  May  the   frigate  Superior  ((>()  gun.s),    built  in   eighty 


118 


WAIJS    AND    HUMORS    OK    WARS. 


(lays,  Wiis  liiuiu'licd,  nnd  llic  day  after  tliorc  occurred  an  inci- 
dent wliicli  well  ni^li  led  to  serious  eonse(|Uenees.  The  ship 
carponters  and  sailors  having'  no  inti'i'ests  in  coninion  with  the 
soldiers  had  ae(|uired  a  l'eelinf>-  of  nnitual  hostility,  and  on  this 
occasion  there  had  been  an  unusual  decree  of  convivial  excess 
in  eel  el)  rating  the  launch.  A  draji'oon,  heing  assaulted  hy  two 
or  three  carpenters,  tied  for  protection  to  a  sentinel  placed 
over  a  storehouse,  and  with  the  obstinacy  and  insolence  of 
half  druid<en  men.  they  were  pei'sistinf>-  in  the  pursuit  in 
which  one  of  tlii'ir  mnidx'i- was  shot  and  thi'  remainder  Hed. 
This  at  once  le<l  to  the  most  intense  (xcitenient.  The  ship 
carpenters  with  axes  and  ad/es  hastily  rallied  with  the  sailors 
ai'uud  with  l)oardin<>'  pikes  and  cutlasses,  who,  forininj>;  in  a 
solid  body,  marched  in  i)ursuit  of  the  sentinel.  The  troops 
were  hastily  foiined  in  a  hollow  s(|uare around  him  and  drawn 
up  in  the  street,  where  they  stood  prepared  to  repel  any  at- 
tack, and  the  former  had  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  and 
were  ycllinf>'  and  l)randishin<:;  their  wcaj)ons  in  the  wildest 
frenzy  of  raf>'e,  when  Eckford,  Chauncey  and  Brown  hastened 
to  the  spot,  threw  themselves  bi'tween  the  |)arties,  and  by  a 
well-timed  and  judicious  appeal  checked  the  advance  and  soon 
persuaded  the  carpenters  to  desist  on  the  assurance  that  the 
sentinel  should  be  impartially  trii'd  and  suitably  punished  if 
convicte(l.  He  was  taken  to  Watertown,  an  I'xaminution  held 
and  he  was  sent  to  a  distant  station  to  be  out  of  their  reach. 

'IMie  Mohawk  ami  Jones  wcw  still  on  the  stocks,  thearma- 
meiit  of  which,  as  well  as  that  iif  the  Su|)erior,  must  be  trans- 
ported throujili  Wood  Creek  and  ( )swe<i'o  river,  as  the  roads 
through  the  lUack  liiver  valley  were  nearly  impassable  with 
nuid.  This  the  enemy  well  knew  an<l  were  also  informed  that 
the  ri^^inji' and  armament  of  these  vessels  was  on  its  way  to 
OHWego.     To  poRHCHS  thoHf  8Up})lies  would  be  etjuivakiit  tu  the 


WARS    AXD    KI-NfOns    OF    WAJJf*.  119 

flcstriK-tioiiof<.urs(,iia(lr()n,  as  vvithoiit  tlicm  tlic  new  ships 
could  not  appear  oil  the  lake,  nor  nail,!  the  II, rt  of  tiic  pre- 
vious year  venture  out  in  the  presence  of  (he  greativ  iiiereased 


naval  arinainent  of  tl 


le  ei 


cess. 


UMiiy  with  the  siif-htest  jiopcs  of  sue- 


Phis  descent  upon  Oswego  was   therefore    planned  witl 


great  foresight  and  had  it 


exeeution  jtet'ii   as   sueeesshil 


coneeption  was  ix.ld  and    masterly,  the  beam   of  ford, 
have  preponderated  with  the  iJritish   and    the   result> 


us  it.- 


lie  must 


campaign  miglit  have  been  as  di.sa.strous 

viousyear  had  l)een  disgraeeful  to  (he  Aiiieriean  arms. 


le   results  of  this 
(iiose   of  the  ::ie- 


fact  be 


ing  remembered    will    eiiabl 


'II 


us 


value  of  (he  servi 
)f  tl 


e   us   to   dulv   estimate    (! 


mC 


ces    which    rescued    tli 


IS   pidj)er(y   fioni    (he 


gra.sp  ot  the  enemy,  and  secured  the  defeat  of  the  detachment 


that 


possible 


was  sent  in   (pie.st  of  it,  as  completely 


as  (•( 


*uld  I 


lave  bet'U 


Tli.\.\SI'(»|;Tl.\(i    \.\V.\I,    STOKK 


Oswego  had  not   been  ..ccupied   by   regular   troops  since 


tlie  revolution,  and   Colonel    Mitchel    liad 


Harbor  April  oOth,  with  fou 


arrived   at  Sacket.- 


r  companies  of  heavv    and 


.  .     one  of 

light  artillery  served  as  infantry.  Of  cannon  the  fort  had  but 
five  old  guns,  three  of  which  had  lost  their  trunioiis.  Plat- 
forms and  pickets  were  repaired  and  the  place  was  hastilv  put 
in  as  go,Ml  a  stat.'  of  <lcfeiis<'  as  possibl,..  when  (he  enemy  ap- 
peared on  the  r>(h  of  Ahiy  widi  a  force  of  fcair  ships,  (1 
brigs  and  a  number  of  gunboats.     A 


I' 
iree 


cannonade  was  begun 
and  returned  with  much  .spirit  and  a  landing  attempted, 
but  not  accomi>li.shed,  when  the  enemy   stood   oif  from   the 


120 


WAKS    AND    IMMOKS    OK    WAIiS. 


shore  ioi'  Ix'ttcM*  anclioiafic.  One  oi-  two  of  tlic  ciu'iuy's  boats 
were  pickod  up  and  ^uaids  were  stationed  at  various  points 
aloufj  the  shore.  At  (hi_\ break  on  tlie  (Uh  the  fleet  again  ap- 
proaelied  the  vilhige  and  after  a  fire  of  three  liours  hinded  six 
hundred  of  DeWaterville's  reginient,  six  luuKlred  marines,  two 
eonipanies  of  thi*  (iU'iipirv  eori)s  and  three  hundrid  and  fifty 
seamen,  who  took  possession  of  the  public  stores,  burned  the 
old  i»an'acks  and  retui-ned  on  board  their  tieet  on  the  morning 
of  the  seventh.  'I'he  land  forces  were  under  (Jeneral  Drum- 
niond,  and  the  fleet  under  Commodore  Yeo. 

The  naval  stores  Wi'W  then  at  Oswego  Falls  (now  Fulton), 
but  Colonel  Mitehel  having  retired  in  that  direction  destioying 
the  bridges  and  filling  the  roads  with  tind)er  after  him,  the 
enemy  thought  it  inex|)edient  to  follow  and  soon  after  the 
fleet  returned  to  its  station  neai-  the  (.Jallou  Islands  to  blockade 
the  i)assage  of  the  stores,  which  it  was  known  nuist  pai^s  in 
that  vicinity.  These  stores,  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Wool.xey  and  escorted  by  Major  I).  A})pling,  of  first  rifle  regi- 
ment, with  a  company  of  one  hvnidred  and  fifty  men,  left  Os- 
wego on  the  eveinng  of  the  2Sth  of  May  in  nineteen  l)oats  in 
the  hope  of  gaining  Stony  Crei'k  unmf)lested,  from  whence 
there  would  be  but  thri'e  miles  of  land  carriage  for  the  heavy 
ordnance  and  st(,  ;  to  Henderson  Harbor,  twelve  miles  from 
Sackets  Harbor.  The  evening  being  dark  and  rainy,  the  bri- 
gade of  boats  rowed  all  night  and  at  dawn  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing met  a  party  of  Oneida  Indians  under  comnnind  of  Lieu- 
tenant Hill,  of  the  rifle  regiment  at  Salmon  River,  and  at 
noon,  May  •2!>th,  entered  Sandy  Creek,  except  one  boat  which 
from  the  misfortune  or  treachery  of  its  pilot  fell  into  ttie  hands 
of  the  enemy.  This  boat  contained  one  cable  ai\(l  two  twenty- 
four  pounders,  and  fiom  those  on  board  tlu^  enemy  learned 
the  particularB  of  the  expedition  and  of  the  force  by  which  it 


WAKS    .WD    KIMOliS    oi'    WAIiS. 


121 


was  escorted.  I'poii  cuteriiiji-  Snndy  Cnrk  Licutciunit  Wool- 
scy  sent  nii  oxjuvss  in  notify  ('..iniiKMloiv  ( 'luuiiiccy  of  liis  Mr- 
rival  and  couriers  wrre  dis|,;itclicd  in  various  dir-etiousto 
rally  teams  to  j^et  the  stores  rcni..v,.d  l.y  land  to  tli..ir  destina- 
tion. The  boats  were  run  uj)  the  south  l)raneh  of  tiie  ereek, 
till  they  f-rouiided  a  (hslanee  of  two  miles  from  its  moutli.  Tiie 
lake  is  here  for  a  j>reat  distance  hordered  l.y  a  low  rid^v  of 
sand  hills,  slightly  wo.mIc.I.  heliind  which  is  a  marsh  with 
open  ponds.  Throunh  this  marsh,  which  is  destitute  of  trees 
or  bushes  and  at  that  time  was  partly  (lowed  from  hiuh  water, 
the  two  branches  of  Sandy  Creek  meand.T  and  uiiite  but  a 
few  yards  from  their  mouth,  where  then,  as  now.  [bs:.;;]  a 
solitary  family  dwelt. 

On  Monday  inoi'iiinj^-  a  lookout  boat  in  char^icof  bieuti'ii- 
ant  Pierce  discovered  the  enemy  makino-  for  the  creek  and 
commumVated  the  news  to  Lieutenant  Woolsey  wh...  at  dawn 
dispatched  messeno-ers  to  call  in  the  neighboring'  nnlitia,  and 
made  hasty  arrany-emcnts  to  meet  the  "nemy  who  were  seen 
soon  after  sunrise  to  enter  the  creek  with  three  ounboats.  three 
cutters  and  one  yiu  and  commenced  a  cannonade  with  a  sixty- 
ei^dit  i.omuler  in  the  dinvlion  (,r  the  llotilla  of  bi.'Utenant 
Woolsey,  the  masts  of  which  wer..  visiM,.  in  ihe.iistance  across 
a  bend  in  the  creek.  These  shots  ^^■rvv  ,UvrrU',\  in  part  a-ainst 
a  thick  wood  that  extended  on  the  north  side  of  the  south 
branch  to  nearly  half  a  mile  below  the  lioats  in  the  edi-e  of 
which,  fronting:  the  ..pen  marsh,  the  rille  company  of  .Major 
Applin,i,r  was  concealed  behind  a  brush  and  h.^-  fei'uv  entirely 
unobserve.1  by  Ih..  enemy.  .\t  nine  n\-]nrk  Captain  Ilarri.s 
with  a  squadron  of  dra,u..ons.  and  Captain  .\b>ivin.  with  a  com- 
pany of  li<.h|,  artillery  an. I  two  six-p.,unders,  arrived.  This 
reinforcement  was. lirect... I  to  indt  a  slmrt  .listance  in  rear  of 
the  boats  as  the  Ibree  best  calculated  f..r  a   bvish  lidit  was  al- 


122 


WARS    AND    Ur>r01{S    OF    WAIiS. 


i-ciuly  oil  tlic  yi-dund  tlicy  could   ocfUpy  with   tlu'  best  advan- 
taiii".     Mcainvliilc  \\\r  caiiiKiii  wit*'  posti'd  in  a  i)()siti()ii  avIkto 
tlicy  could  l)c   used    with    I'llcct    if  uoccssai'V,   aud    the   fences 
thrown  down  that  the  dragoons  iniuht    maneuver  without  ob- 
struction.     Till'  enemy    slowly   advanced    up   the  ci'eek   and 
landed  on  the  soutii  side,  but  Hndinj>-  it  impossible  to  ))rocoed, 
on  account  of  the  slimy  condition    of  the  marsh,  they   re-em- 
harked  an<l  proceeded  on  to  within  about    twenty  rods  of  the 
woods,  whi're  they  landed  and   formed  on  the  north  bank  at  a 
l)la('e  now  occupied  by   a   storehouse  and    which   alfordod  the 
first  solid   j^round    for    marchinf--.     The    advancing;-   column, 
•headed  by  Mr.  lloare,  a  midshi|)man  of  the  r.ritish  navy,  had 
ai)i)roache(l  to  witiiin  ten  rods  of  the  and)ush,  when,  on  a  sig- 
nal, the  rillemen  of  Nhijor  A|)plin,u'  arose  from   their  conceal- 
ment and  tired.     Several  fell  dead  and  their  leader  fell  pierced 
with  eleven  balls.     So   sudden   and   elfectual    was  this  move- 
ment that  it  threw  the  enemy  into  confusion,  and  after  a  fire 
of  a  few  minutes,  the  order  was  fiiven  to  charji,e,  upon   which 
tile  ritie  men  rushed  forward  with   loud   cheers,  holdinj;  their 
rilles  in  the  the  position  of  charged  bayonets.     The  result  was 
the  surrendei'  of  the  enemy  at  discretion. 

This  wa.s  scarcely  done,  when  the  Indians,  true  to  their 
character  as  savages,  came  furiously  on,  yelling  and  brandish- 
ing their  weapons  and  were  with  the  greatest  dilliculty  pre- 
venti'd  from  murdering  the  (lisarme<l  prisom-rs,  and,  indeed, 
it  has  been  generally  believed  that  one  or  two  British  officers 
wi're  mortally  wounded  after  they  had  yielded.  The  enemy 
were  conunanded  by  Captains  I'opham  and  Spilsbuiy  and 
their  loss  was  nineteen  killed,  lifty  wounded  and  i:^o  taken 
prisoners.  A  few  landed  on  the  south  bank  and  fled,  but 
were  pursued,  and  not  one  escaped  to  report  their  defeat. 
Among  the  prisoners  were  27   marines,  lOG   sailors,  with  two 


WAIJS    AND    IM'MoliS    OK    WAIiS. 


123 


post  cnptiiins,  four  licutciiiiiits  of  the  iwivy,  one  cMptiiin  of  niii- 
riiics,  two  liciitciiaiits  jind  two  iiiidsliiitnicn.  'I'lic  ciipliiin  of 
iiiitriiic.  iiiid  one  iiiidsliipniaii  died  of  tlicir  wounds.  I'opliiim 
is  sjiid  to  liiivc  Ix'cii  iui  old  a('(|Uinntiinc('  of  W'oolsev's  iuid  as 
1r'  caiiic  forward  to  surrender  his  sword,  the  latter  exclaimed  : 
"  Why,  I'ophani  !  what  are  you  doin^-  in  tliis  creek  ?  " 
After  some  indilferent  reply  and  a  survey  (jf  our  force,  ho 
roplie<l  : 

"  Well,    Woolsey,  this  is   the   tirst  time    T    ever   lunird  of 
ritleinen  ehar<>in^f  hayonetsl" 

At  the  moment  after  the  first  fire  the  enemy  had  at- 
temi)ted  to  retreat,  hut  the  recoil  of  their  heavy  ordnance  had 
forced  the  stern  of  their  larfi;er  hoats  into  the  mud  and  they 
fomid  it  imi)ossihle.  I'pon  this  they  attempted  to  throw  over- 
hoard  theii'  armament  and  succeeded  in  ^a'ttini^  out  one  hrass 
]iiece,  hut  were  prevented  from  further  mischief  hy  our  men. 
Our  loss  was  one  Indian  killed  and  one  rifl  man  wounded. 
On  the  morninnof  the  liattle  Captain  Smith  was  ordered  on 
with  12(1  iiijirines,  and  Colonel  Mitchell,  with  .'!0(l  artillery 
and  infanliy,  who  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  pai'ticipate  in  the 
enya^eiiient.  The  same  was  the  case  of  the  neiiiliixirina-  mi- 
litia.who  soon  after  ari'ived  in  yieat  numhers. 

The  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Mcintosh,  Calhoun,  Mcl''ai'- 
land.  .\rnisliiii^  and  Smith,  and  of  i'jisinn  .\us(in.  who  were 
under  Major  A  p|)liM,i:-.  was  especially  commended  in  his  otli- 
cial  itports  of  the  en,uai;cment.  The  dead  Wi'i'c  huried,  the 
prisoneis  marched  to  Sackets  llarhor.  measures  were  taken 
to  erect  shejirs  for  unloading  the  heavy  freij^ht  and,  at  ."»  p.  mi. 
Woolsey  was  relieved  hy  Capfjiili  h'iduvley,  whom  Chauncey 
had  sent  for  the  purjiose.  The  oilicial  report  of  Lieutenant 
Woolsey  acknowledo'cs  the  unremitted  exertions  of  Lieutenant 
J'ierce,  Sailinj;inaster  X'aughan  and  Midshipmen  Ilarl,  Mackey 


124 


WAKS    AND    RUNfOUS    OK    WAKS. 


and  ('ant..n  in  tlu^  iitVair.     Tho  r..uls  wcv   tlu-u    nrw   mihI  m1- 
niost  iinpassabl.-  and  tlic  labor  of  rcn.ovin^r   tlic   }.uns.  cables 


and  risiiiint!'  w 


as  on(!  of  no  ordinary  ma: 


-■niludc.      'Pbcrc  were 


M 


lion  tbe  Hotilla  loft  Oswof-o,  tuvnty-nc  lonji  li-^-ponndcrs,  U-n 
ikn-s,  tluTO  42-i)oundcr  t-arronadcs,   ten  cables  ani 


24-i»()un 


ticK 


d  a 


A    cable  an<l    two   ,uuns 


([uantitv  of  shot  and  other  ai 

had  hoJn  lost  in  the  boat   that  fell  in  with  the  enemy  an.l  tho 


prizes  taken  in   the  cree 


■k   were  one  2 4-|>oun<ler,  a   (')S-|i<)und 


carron 
anif)uut 


lo,  with  several   smaller  cannon    and   a   considerable 

of  small  arms  and  ammunition.     Such  was  the  indus- 

lisidavcd  in  this  labor  that  on   Thursday   there  remained 


try  disj 

nothing  but  one  long  ca 

difficult  to  load  on  any  vehicle,  as  i 


ble,   which   it   was  found  extremely 
t  could  not  bo  divided,  atul 


Id  not  be  advantageously  at- 


boar- 


a  sufficient  nund)er  of  teams  cou 

tachod  to  it.  In  this  dilemma  the  idea  was  suggoste.l  o 
ing  it  upon  the  shoul(U-rs  of  men,  and  the  proposal  was  cheur- 
fullv  adopted  by  tho  citizens  who  had  assi-mbled  to  assist  in 
these  oi)orations.  They  were  acconliugly  arranged  in  tho 
order  of  their  stature  and  at  tho  word  of  comi'  and  shouldered 
tlie  j.ondorous  cable  and  took  up  their  line  of  march  for  Sack- 
ets  Harbor,  about  twenty  miles  distant,  being  as  near  together 
as  they  could  conveniontlv  walk.  This  novel  procession  passed 
bv  wav  of  Ellis 


_^ Village  and  Smithville  and  on   the  second  day 

hJd  the  Harbor.     As  they  ai.proached   the   town    the  sail- 
t  to  meet  them  and  with  loud  cheers  relieved  thorn 


roac 


ors  came  ou 


of  their  burden  and  marched  triumphantly  into  the  village, 


Tills    lil.ACK     SNAKK. 

Tilt'  IJritisli  llct't  received  Inrno  acc'e8sif)iis  to  it.s  iiiival 
force.  The  ciire  that  they  evinced  in  the  selection  of  officers 
for  this  Iiil<o  indicates  the  iin|»ortaiiL'o  they  attached  to  its  con- 
trol, and  the  indiistiy  that  Ixtth  naticais  displayed  in  the 
littinji'  out  of  larjic  vessels,  seemed  to  |»ortend  a  nii«ihty  strug- 
glo  for  its  supremacy.  There  occurred,  meanwhile,  .some 
operations  on  a  minor  scale  that  demand  our  notice.  With 
the  view  of  cutting  olf  some  of  the  detachments  of  boats  that 
Avero  ascending  the  St.  I.awrence  with  supplies,  Chauncey 
uhout  the  middle  of  June  directed  I.ieutemint  Francis  11. 
Ciregory  to  take  three  gigs  with  their  crews  and  secrete  him- 
self among  the  Tliousand  Islands  to  watch  for  some  opportu- 
nity to  surprise  and  bring  (»lf  or  destroy  some  of  these  brigades 
of  loa<led  boats. 

This  expedition  consisted  of  Lieutenant  Gregory,  William 
Vaughan  and  Samuel  Dixon,  sailingmastor.s,  and  eighteen 
men.  armed  with  riMes.  pistols  and  cutlasses.  They  saw  two 
brigades  of  boats  [tassing  up  full  of  troo[)s  and  too  strong  to 
attack,  and  another  passing  down  and  not  worth  taking,  (jiun- 
boats  were  found  stationed  about  oikh;  in  six  miles  and  a  sys- 
tem of  telegraphs  erected  on  the  heights,  so  that  intelligence 
could  be  conveyed  with  great  despatch.  On  the  IDth  the  i)ar- 
ty  were  laying  close  under  the  Canada  shore,  four  miles  below 
Alexandria  Hay,  and  near  IJald  Island,  when  a  gunboat  was 
coming  duwii  under  easy  sail,  but  nearer  the  middle  of  the 
chaiuiel.  Tpon  seeing  the  boats  an  officer  with  one  or  two 
men  was  sent  in  a  skiff  that  was  in  tow  to  make  inquiries  of 
them,  supposing  them  to  be  Canadians.       Upon  approaching, 


120 


WA15S    AN'D    lU'MOKS    (tK    WAliS. 


firogory   Imilotl    tho   stni liters,   (U'liiiunlinn    tlicir  surrender, 
wliieh  from  noeessity  was  oheyi'd  ;  l»ut    tlutse  on   honrd  weint; 
the  movement  opened  a  lire,  wliieli  was  returned.     'I'lie  vessel 
was  soon  taken  and    I'onnd    to  he  the    Mlaek    Snake,  or  No.  i>, 
Captain    I.an<h)n,  witli   one    IS-pouuih-r  and    IH  men,  ehielly 
royal  marines.     'IMie  prize  was  taken  in  tow  and  when  a  mile 
and  a  half  helow  French  Creek  was  met  hy  a  Ihitish  ^unhoat. 
Fiudinj;  eseape  impossihle  the  prisoners  and    small  arms  were 
taken  out  and   their   prize   scuttled   at   the   foot  of  Kound  Is- 
land.    The  enemy  arrived  soon   after,  hut   not  heinji  ahle  to 
save  it  from   sinking  pursued   (iregory's   party  sevei'al  miles. 
Nijfht  coming'  on,  he    escaped,  reached    (ii'cnadier    Island  late 
in  the  evening  and  the  next  day  ai-rived   sale  at  Sackets  Ilar- 
hor  with  his  prisoners.     The  commo(lor(;   in  his  ollicial  re]iort 
warmly  recommended  (Jregory,  Vaughau   and    Dixon   to  the 
notice  of  the  department  for  their  activity,  zeal  and  success  in 
tho  cruise.     Congress,  hy  an  act  passi'd  May  4,  \s:\A,  awarded 
Gregory  and  his  nu'n  $3, ()()(»  for  this  si'rvice. 


MINOR    KVKNTS. 

On  the  ITthof  Septemhev,  1S12.  (ieneral  IJrown,  who  had 
his  confidence,  addri'ssed  the  following  letter  to  the  governor  : 
The  first  and  only  ollicial  notice  that  I  have  received 
from  my  goveriunent  of  the  renewal  of  oll'ensive  <>|ierations 
against  (ireat  liritain  came  to  hand  yesterday  hy  the  way  of 
Ogdenshurg.  Would  it  not  he  advisahle  to  estahlish  a  line  of 
post  horses  by  the  way  of  Johnstown  to  Lowville  and  from 
thence  to   this  place  and   Ogdenshurg?     Were  1  pwmittod  it 


WAliS    AMI    lllMoliS    Ol'    WAIiS. 


127 


hIiouM  lie  (lone  foi'tliwitli.  (Ifiicral  Dodyo  lulvised  iiu;  last 
week  lliiit  lie  cminhMl  upon  liaviiij-'  iHK)  incii  i'ml)0(lif(l  at 
I'tica  last  Saturday  and  tliat  tlicsc  men  would  move  to  the 
frontiers  with  as  little  delay  as  possilde  ;  hut  1  am  yet  to 
h'iirn  that  they  have  marched  or  moved.  I  hmuhly  trust  that 
what  it  was  in  my  power  to  do  with  the  uieaus  at  my  coiu- 
mand  has  heeii  done,  and  that  I  am  disposed  to  do  what  in  me 
lies  to  pi'oseeute  this  just  and  honorahle  war. 

'i'he  inferiority  of  our  fli'et  is  thus  related  in  Cooper's  Naval 
History  :  "In  the  eourse  of  theautunm  the  Anierieans  had  in- 
creased their  force  to  eleven  sail,  ten  of  which  were  th 


e  s 


mull 

schoonei's  hou.uht  from  the  merchants  and  fitted  with  guid)oat 
armaments,  without  (piarters.  In  addition  to  the  vessels  al- 
ready named,  were  the  Ontario,  Scourjj;e,  Fair  An)erican  and 


Asp.  Neither  of  the  ten  were  tit  to  cruise,  and  an  ordinary 
ei^iiteen-yun  hv]^  ou^ht  to  have  heeii  ahle  to  cope  with  them 
all  in  a  jiood  workiuj-' hrei'ze  in  close  (|uarters.  At  lonjf  .shot, 
however,  and  in  smooth  waters,  they  were  not  without  a  certain 
efficiency.  As  was  ])roved  in  the  end,  in  attackinjjf  hatteries 
and  in  coverin--'  descents  they  were  even  found  to  ho  exceed- 
ingly serviceahlc.  " 

At  Sackets  Ilarhor  it  was  feared   the    liritisli  would  cress 

ho 
le  secretary  of  war 


on  the  ice.     On  the  Uthof  Ahuch,  ISI;^,  (ieneral  Dcarho 
greatly  feared  a  surprise,  thus  wroto  to  tl 


rn,  w 


I  have  n(jt  yet  had  the  honor  of  a  visit  from  Sir  CJ.  Pre- 
vo.st.  His  whole  force  is  concentrated  at  Kingston,  prohahly 
amounting  to  six  or  seven  thou.suid,  ahout  three  thousand  Jf 

we  expect  him 
prise  is  in 


whom  are  regular  troo|»s.     The  ice  is  good  and 
every  day  and  every  measure  for  jircventing  a  sur 
constant  activity.      The   troops  from  (ireenhush  (upwards  of 
40U)  have  arrived.      1   have  heard  nothuig  from  Pike;  he 


128 


WARS    AND    RUMORS    OF    WARS. 


should  have  Ix'on  licrc  yt^stcrdjiy.     I  have  sent  three  (^presses 
to  meet  him  ;  neither  li-is   returned.      I  have   suspieions  cf  the 
cxpi-ess  em}»loye<l  hy  the  (|uartermaster-f>(>neral  to  convey  the 
orders  to  Pike.     Tlie  earhest  measures  were  taken  to  convey  a 
dupHcato  of  his  orders,     liy  tlie  liUh,  the  ai»prel!ensions  of  at- 
tack had  nearly  subsided,  and  (leneral  Dearborn  af>ain  wrote  : 
From    the   most    recent    and    ju-obalile    information    I   have 
obtained,    1   am  induced  to  believe  that    Sir   (leorj^e   Prevost 
thinks  it  is  too  late  to  attack   this   place.     lie   undoubtedly 
meditated  a  cou[)-de-main  against  the  shipi)ing  here.     All  the 
apprehension   is  now  at    Kinj;ston.      Sir  (Jeorge  has   visited 
York  and  Niagara  and  returned  to  Montreal.     Several  bodies 
of  troops  have  passed  up  from  Montreal  ;  but  such  precautions 
have  been  taken  to  ]>revent  their  number  being  ascertained,  as 
to  render  it  impossible  to  form   any  accurate  opinion  of  their 
forces,  or  even  to  imagine  very   nearly  what  they   amount  to. 
From  various  sources  1  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  they  are  not 
in  sufficient  force   to  attack    this   place  knowing,  as  they  do, 
that  we  have  coHectcd  a  hue  body  of  troops  from    (ireenl)nsli 
and   Plattsburg   an<l  that  tlie  militia  have  been  called  in.   We 
are  pr(<bal)ly  just  .4i'ong  enough  on    each   side   to   di'fend,  but 
not  in  suHicient  force  to  hazard  an  ollensiv<'  movement.     The 
ditference  of  attacking  and   being  attacked,  as  it   i-egards   the 
contiguous  posts  of  Kingston  and  Sackets    Ilarltor,  can  not  be 
cstinnite<l  at  less   than   three   or  four   thousand   men,   arising 
from  the  circumstance  ol'  niihtia  acting  only  on  the  defensive. 
Briga<U'   orders:      The    imoflendiiig  citizens  of  Canada 
are  many  of  them  our  own   couuti'ynien.  and    the  ]»oor  Cana- 
dians have  been  forced  into   the  war.      Their  property,  there- 
fore, must  be  held  saci'cd  ;  and    any   soldier    who  shall    so  far 
neglect  the  honor  of  iiis  profession  as  lie  to  guilty  of  i»lundering 
the  inhabitants,  shall,  if  convicted,  be  punished   with  death. 


WAHS    ANT)    lUMOKS   OF    WARS. 


129 


But  tlie  ooniiiianding  general  assures  the  troops  tliat  should 
they  capture  a  large  quantity  of  pu])lic  stores  he  will  use  his 
best  endeavors  to  proeure  them   a   reward  from   his  goveni- 


inent. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1S13,  Lieutenant  WokottChauncey 
received  orders  from  Connnodore  ("iiauneey  to  proceed  on  a 
cruise,  and  having  reached  the  vicinity  of  ['resipie  Isle,  in  the 
schooner  Lady  of  the  Lake,  on  the  morning  of  the  KUh  fell  in 
with  and  captured  the  Lnglish  schooner  Lady  Murray  from 
Kingston  hound  lor  York,  and  laden  with  provisions,  powder, 
sliot  an<l  Hxed  ammunitions.    One  ensign  and  fifteen  i)rivates, 


belonging  to  the  41st  and  l()4th   regiments,  were 


taken 


Tl 


le 


prize  waf 


taken  into  Sackets  Harbor. 


On  tile  -id  of  .Inly  a  secret  expedition  was  fitted  out  from 
Kingston,  witii  the  design  of  tiring  the  IMke  and  the  naval 
stores  at  Sackets  Harbor  in  the  night.  On  arriving  at  the 
istlniius  of  I'oint  Peninsula  they  drew  their  boats  out  and  con- 
(H'aled  tiu-ni  in  tlie  buslies  till  circumstances  might  favor  tiiem, 
but  a  (U'serter  from  tlieir  iiumlier  having  cscajicd  to  Sackets 
Harbor,  they  returned  back.  I'pon  receiving  inti'lligence  of 
this,  a  force  was  sent  to  intercept  the  detachment,  hut  witiiout 


success. 


The   Sylph,    jtierced   for  24   guns  but  carrying  20,    and 


schooiier-riii<ie( 


i,    was  liuilt   and    ready    for  service  in    thirty- 
tiiree  days  from  the  time  her  timber  was  growing. 

On  tlie  uigiit  of  May  2."),  1S14,  Lieutenant  Dudley  with 
two  guard  boats  fell  in  with  three  of  the  enemy's  in  the  bay, 
who  were  hailed,  but  not  being  prt)perly  answi'red,  were  fired 
upon  when  the  latter  lied.  A  reinforceiiu'iit  was  hastily  ob- 
tained but  nothing  was  seen  or  found  of  the  enemy  except  .six 


130 


WARS    ANl.    ..iMOns    OF    AVAHS. 


barrels  of  ])o\V(lor,  slung  in  pairs  to  be  carrii-d  on  tlie  sbonldcrs 
of  men,  and  doubtless  intended  to  fire  our  vessels  stealtbily. 
This  accounted  for  their  hasty  retreat  when  tired  upon,  for 
fear  of  accidental  explosion.  This  insidious  plan  of  the  enemy 
could  scarcely  have  succeeded,  as,  besides  two  lines  of  ouard 
boats,  all  tlie  api)roaches  were  secured  by  booms,  and  a  marine 
guard  boat  and  numerous  sentinels  were  posted  near.  The 
guns  of  the  Madison  that  was  close  to  the  stern  of  the  Superior 
were  kept  loaded  with  canister  and  bags  of  nuisket  l)alls,  to 
rake  under  if  necessary. 

The  Moliawk,  a  frigate  of -14  guns,  was  launched  at  Sack- 
ets  Harbor,  having  l)een  but  34  days  in  building.  The  indomit- 
able Mr.  Henry  Eckford,  the  energetic  shipbuilder,  who  directed 
this  department,  ac(iuired  a  large  fortune  in  the  war,  but  was 
subse(|Uently  reduced  by  .some  stock  ojierations.  He  died  at 
Constantinople,  Xovend)er  I'i,  1S;U,  where  for  .several  years, 
he  had  been  chief  director  of  the  dock  yards  in  the  Turkish 
Empire.  No  higher  compliments  to  his  talents  could  l)e  paid 
than  that  of  the  .«ultan,  who,  in  speaking  of  him  said  that 
AnuTica  nuist  be  great,  if  it  could  s|»are  such  men  as  Kck- 
ford. 

On  the  0th  of  August,  Abram  Shoemaker,  with  his  bi'otber 
and  a  Mr.  Sergeant,  in  a  boat,  bound  from  Oswego  to  Suckets 
Harl)or,  wjis  attacked  oH'  Stony  Point  by  a  i'.riti.sh  barge,  un- 
der a  lieutenant  of  lUiirines,  and  aftei'  a  valiant  resistance  was 
captured.  After  securing  the  prize,  the  lieutenant  sent  all  bis 
men  to  join  another  boat's  crew,  except  four,  which  lunnber 
he  deemed  .sufficient  to  secure  her.  Seizing  a  proper  moment, 
and  without  waiting  for  a  concerted  signal.  Shoemaker  pushed 
the  lieutenant  overboanl,  knocked  down  a  sailor,  and,  calling 
upon  his  comrades  to  lu'lj),  soon  found    himself  the   mastei'  of 


WAKS    AXD    Rl'MOHS   <)V    WARS. 


I'M 


the  boat,  but  scvoivly  woimdiMl  by  a  cutluss.  The  niovcincnt 
being  seen  by  the  other  boat,  they  were  obHged  to  ahaii(h»ii 
tlieir  prize,  but  sueceeik'd  in  reaching  Sackets  Harbor  in  a 
small  boat. 

(!reata|)|»rehensions  were  felt  for  the  safety  of  the  Trarl)or, 
which  led  to  an  ai)j>lication  to  the  executive  for  aid.      Colonel 
Washington  Irving,  aid-de-camp   to  the  governoi',  ai'rived  at 
this  station  October  ">,  1S14,  with  orders  to   the   conimanding 
officer  to  make  such  reipiisitions  on   the  militia   as  he   might 
deem    neces.sary.     After    consultation    with   Colonel    Mitchell, 
(Jeneral  Collins  called  the  militia,  en  masse,  from  the  counties 
of  I h'rkimer,  Oneida,  Lewis  and  .letIer.<on.       'i'he  two  form(>r 
produced    about    "I/tfH)   men,    the  latter  not   more   than    400, 
which  made  the  force  at  the  harbor  between  live  and  six  thou- 
sand men.     (iri-at  dilHculty    was  experienced    from    the  want 
of  suitable  ((Uartfrs   for  so  great  a    body.     Many    were  (juar- 
tered  in  dwellings  and  barns,  and   from   twenty  to  thirty  were 
often  assigned   to  a  single  room.     The  discomforts  attending 
tlie.se  accommodations  very  naturally  excited    uneasiness,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  the  draft,  it  was  apprehended  that  the  mi- 
litia would  be  with  diHiculty  prcveiitecl  fi-oin  going  home,  and 
that  it  would    become    nect's,siry   to  supply   their  places   with 
regulars.     TIk'  apprehensions  were  not  Justified  by  the  events 
that  followed,  and  the  militia  were  allowed   to   return   home. 
Two     frigates    of    the    largest     class,     one    on    Navy    Point, 
in    Sacket-,     Harbor,    to    be    called    the    New    Orleans,    and 
another  of  till' same   class  at    Storr's   Harbor,   faitlu'r  up  the 
bay,  to  he  called  the   Chippewa,  W(>re  bi'gun    and    their   hulks 
])artly  completed,  wlu'U  the  news  of  peace  put   a   stop  to  the 
war. 


Up  the  St.  Lawrence,  1796. 

Mr.  Isaac  Weld,  an  Irish  refugee,  as  he  was  leaving  Mon- 
treal in  September,  17iK),  foi-  a  journey  up  the  St.  Lawrence, 
had  as  his  first  concern  to  provide  a  large  tent  and  some  camp 
e(iuipage,  buffalo  skins,  a  store  of  dried  provisions,  kegs  of 
brandy  and  wine,  and,  in  short,  to  make  every  usual  and  nec- 
essary prei)aration  for  the  journey.  Except  for  about  fifty 
miles,  there  were  roads  and  scattered  settlements  at  no  great 
distance  from  each  other  all  the  way  up  to  Kingston  ;  but  no 
one  ever  thougiii  ot  going  by  land,  as  there  would  be  great 
difficulty  in  hiring  hor.ses  and  in  crossing  streams  without 
bridges,  says  Dr.  Hough. 

The  bateaux  were  never  laden  until  the  boats  had  been 
got  up  the  Lachine  Rapids.  Three  men  could  take  an  empty 
boat  of  two  tons  up  these  first  rapids,  keeping  as  close  as  pos- 
.sible  to  the  shore  and  using  poles,  oars  and  sails,  as  found 
most  advantageous.  It  was  a  very  laborious  task  ;  but  from 
long  observation  they  had  been  able  to  find  places  some  times 
half  a  mile  or  in  others  two  or  three  miles  apart,  where  they 
could  take  breath.  Each  of  these  i)laces  the  boatmen  called 
"  une  pipe,  "  bin-ause  they  were  there  allowed  to  liU  their  l»il)es, 
and  this  term  had  come  to  be  a  sort  of  itinerary  measure,  as, 


UP    THK    ST.    LAWJ{|.;N(K,   1790. 


133 


such  a  place  is  "  tliroo  pipes  off.  "  Tlio  "  pipe  "  was  about 
equal  on  an  average  to  tliree-(|uartei-s  of  nn  Knglish  mile. 

The  passiijre  up  the  rapids  was  so  tedious  that  travelers 
often  proceeded  on  foot,  by  the  roads  idon«--  the  north  shore. 

Coming  ui)  from  Lower  Canada  in  midsummer,  by  the 
tedious  water  passage,  which  had  then  been  somewhat  re- 
lieved l>y  canals  and  locks  for  batciuix,  he  noticed,  as  he 
reached  the  level  of  hike  navigation,  enormous  flocks  of  j)ig- 
eons,  "which  during  particular  yciirs  come  down  from  the 
northern  regions  in  flights  that  it  is  marvellous  to  tell  of.  " 

Weld's  description  of  the  voyage  to  Kingston  is  as  fol- 
lows:  The  current  of  the  St.  Lawrence  from  Oswegatchie  up- 
wards is  much  more  gentle  than  in  other  parts  between  Mon- 
treal and  Lake  Ontario,  except  only  where  the  river  is  consid- 
erably dilated  as  at  Lakes  St.  Louis  and  St.  Frances  ;  however, 
notwithstanding  its  being  so  gmtle  we  did  not  advance  more 
than  twenty-five  miles  in  the  course  of  the  day,  owing  to  the 
numerous  stops  that  we  made,  more  from  motives  of  pleasure 
than  nece.s.sity.  The  evening  was  uncommonly  tine  and  tow- 
ards sunset  a  brisk  gale  sprang  up,  the  conductc.r  judged  it 
advisable  to  take  advantage  of  it  and  to  coiitimie  tiie  v(»yage 
all  night,  in  order  to  make  up  for  tiie  time  we  had  lo.st  during 
the  da3\ 

We  accordingly  i)roceedi'd,  but  towar<ls  liiidnight  the  wind 
died  away.  This  circumstance,  hovvevi'r,  did  not  alter  the  de- 
termination of  the  conductor.  The  men  were  ordered  to  the 
oars  and  notwithstanding  they  had  labored  hard  during 
the  preceding  day  and  had  no  rest,  yet  they  were  kept  closely 
at  work  until  daybreak,  e.\ce|)t  for  one  hour,  during  which 
they  were  allowed  to  stop  to  cook  their  provisions. 

Where  there  is  a  gentle  current  as  in  this  part  of  the  river 
tho  Canadians  will  work  at  the  oars  many  hours  without  in- 


134 


ri'   TlIK   ST.    LAWRKXC'I';,  1 79G. 


tonnissioii  ;  they  i^ocm  to  tliink  it  no  hardsliij)  to  1)0  employed 
ii!  tliis  instance  the  whole  nij>ht  ;  on  the  contniry,  they  plied 
as  vigorously  as  if  they  had  hut  just  set  out,  siiifiing  merrily 
ilie  whole  time.  'Phe  Freneh  Canadians  have  in  general  a 
iT.'od  ear  for  music  and  sing  duets  with  tolerable  accuracy. 
n"'  •  nave  one  very  favoi'ile  duet  amongst  them  called  the 
"  r)\\  in-  duet, ''  which  as  they  sing  they  mark  time  to  with 
each  sii  '  '  of  the  oar;  indeed,  when  rowing  in  smooth  water 
tl,  vp).  .'  ■'•(' time  of  most  of  the  airs  they  sing  in  the  same 
mannei 

Ahout  eight  o'clock  the  next  and  eighth  morning  of  our 
voyage,  we  I'uti'red  the  last  befoir  you  come  to  that  of  On- 
tario, called  The  l.ake  of  a  Thousand  Islands,  on  account  of 
the  multiplicity  of  them,  which  it  contains. 

Ahmy  of  these  islands  are  scarcely  larger  than  a  bateaux, 
and  none  of  them,  except  such  as  are  situated  at  the  upj)er  and 
lower  I'xtremities  of  the  lake,  appearing  to  me  to  contain  more 
than  fifteen  Knglish  acres  each.  They  are  all  covered  with 
wood  even  to  the  smallest.  The  trees  on  these  last  are  smaller 
in  their  growth,  but  the  larger  islands  produce  as  fine  timber 
as  will  be  found  on  the  main  shores  of  the  lake.  Many  of 
these  islands  are  situated  so  closely  together  that  it  would  be 
easy  to  throw  a  i)ebble  from  one  to  the  other.  Notwithstand- 
ing which  circumstance,  the  passage  betwi'en  them  is  perfectly 
safe  ai\d  connnodious  for  bateaux  and  between  some  of  them 
that  are  even  thus  close  to  each  other  is  water  sutticieut  for  a 
frigate.  The  water  is  unconnnimly  clear  as  it  is  in  every  i)art 
of  the  river  from  Lake  St.  Francis  upwards.  P>etw(!ou  that  lake 
and  the  I'tawas  River  downwaids  it  is  discolored,  as  I  have 
befoi'e  observed,  by  passing  over  beds  of  nuirl. 

The  shores  of  all  these  islands  under  our  notice  are  rocky, 
most  of  them  rise  very  boldly  and  some  exhibit  perpendicular 


UI>    TIFK   ST.    LAWJtKNCK.  1700. 


135 


masses  of  rock  towards  llic  wjitci-,  upw-jinls  of  twenty  foct  lii^r],. 
The  .scenery  presented  to  view  in  |iiissinj>-  hetween  these  i.shnids 
is  beautiful  in  the  hi-hest  (h'j<ree.  Sometimes  in  passing 
throuf>h  a  narrow  strait  you  find  yourself  in  a  l)asin,  hind- 
locked  on  every  si(h',  that  ap])ears  to  have  no  eommunieation 
Avitli  the  lake,exeept  hy  the  f)assage  tlii'ough  whicli  you  have 
entered.  You  are  looking  ahout,  j)erhnps,  for  an  outlet  to  en- 
able you  to  ])roeeed,  thinking  at  hist  to  see  some  Jilfle  channel 
whicli  will  just  admit  y(Mir  ])ateau.\— when  suddeidy  an  ex- 
panded sheet  of  water  ojiens  upon  you,  whos<'  lioundarv  is  the 
horizon  alone.  Again  in  a  i'vw  minutes,  you  find  yourself 
land-locked,  and  again  a  sjiacious  passage  as  suddenly  i)re- 
sents  itself;  at  other  times,  when  in  the  middle  of  one  ofthe.se 
ba,sins,  between  a  elu.stcr  of  islands,  a  dozen  .lilferent  channels, 
like  .so  many  noble  rivers,  meet  the  eye,  perhaps  eipially  un- 
expectedly, and  on  each  side  the  islands  appear  regularly  re- 
tiring till  they  sink  from  the  sight  in  the  <listance. 

Every  minute  during  the  passage  f)f  this  lake,  the  pros- 
pect varies.  The  numerous  Indian  hunting  encampments  on 
the  different  islands,  with  the  smoke  of  their  tires  rising  up 
between  the  trees,  added  considerably  to  the  beauty  ot'^the 
scenery  as  we  passed  through  it.  The  hake  of  the  Thousand 
Islands  is  twenty-five  miles  in  length  and  about  six  in  breadth. 
From  its  upper  end  to  Kingston,  at  which  we  arrived  early  in 
the  evening,  the  distance  is  (ifteen  miles. 

The  length  of  time  re(|uiie(l  to  asceml  the  IJiver  St.  Law- 
rence, from  Montreal  to  Kingston,  is  commonly  found  to  be 
about  seven  days.  If  the  wind  should  he  strong  and  very 
favorable  the  passag(>  may  be  performed  in  a  less  time  ;  but 
should  it,  on  the  contrary,  hi'  adverse,  and  hiow  very  strong, 
the  passage  will  be  protracted  somewhat  longer.  An  adverse, 
or  favorable  wiuJ,  however,  seldom  makes  a  dilfereuco  of  more 


130  iTi>  Tiri<:  ST.  LAWRtcxcK,  179G. 

tlian  three  days  in  tlio  longtli  of  the  ])iissago  uiiwards,  or  in 
each  case  it  is  necessary  to  work  the  bateaux  along  by  means  of 
poll's,  for  the  gi'eatei-  part  of  the  way.  The  {)assage  downward 
is  performed  in  t\v.)  or  three  days,  aecordini>'  to  the  wind.  The 
current  is  so  strong,  that  a  contrary  wind  seldom  lengthens 
the  {)assage  in  that  direction  more  than  a  day. 

Kingston,  as  seen  by  Mr.  Weld,  just  before  tlie  beginning 
of  the  i)reseut  century,  etjutained  a  fort,  barracks  for  troops, 
tin  K|)is('0|)al  church,  and  al)out  a  hundred  houses,  mostly  in- 
habited l»y  persons  who  had  emigrated  from  the  United  States 
at  the  close  of  the  llevolutionaiy  war.  Some  of  the  houses 
were  of  stone  or  brick,  but  for  the  most  part  they  were  ot 
wood . 

From  sixty  to  one  hundred  soldiers  were  usually  quar- 
tered in  the  garrison.  The  town  ha<l  a  considerable  amount 
of  trade,  and  was  growing  rapidly  in  size,  the  goods  and 
peltries  of  traders  being  here  transferi'ed  from  bateaux  to 
vessels.  The  principal  merchants  were  mostly  partners  of 
old-established  houses  in  Montreal  and  (Quebec,  and  tbe 
stranger,  esi)eeially  if  a  British  sul)ji'ct,  was  sure  to  meet  a 
most  hosi)itable  and  friendly  reception  among  them. 

Kingston  was  then  the  principal  station  for  shi})building 
on  the  Lakes,  and  at  that  period,  several  decked  merchant 
vessels,  schooners,  and  sloops,  of  from  50  to  2U0  tons  each,  and 
numberless  large  sailing  bateaux,  were  kept  emidoyed  on  Lake 
Ontario.  There  were  then  no  vessels  larger  than  l)ateaux  owned 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Lake,  and  the  British  vessels  that  plied 
between  Kingston  and  Niagara,  rarely  touched  at  any  other 
place. 

The  heaviest  item  of  ship-building  at  that  period  was  iron, 
which  came  from  England,  but  great  hopes  were  founded  ujion 


UP   THE   ST.    LAWRKXCE,  179G.  137 

tho  copper  of  the  Luke  Superior  country,  which  was  then 
known  to  exist,  hut  liad  not  yet  heen  worked  to  niuch  extent. 
The  established  rate  of  pasisage  across  tlu;  Lake  was  then 
two  guineas  in  the  cahin,  and  one  guinea  in  the  steerage,  in- 
cluding hoard.  Freight  was  30  sliillings  Sterling  ])er  ton,  or 
nearly  us  much  us  then  churged  across  the  Atlantic. 


Down  the  St.  Lawrence,  1818. 

John  M.  Duncan   in    IMS  .U.chhU.I   tl.c  St.  Lnwm.co 
„,,  ,,„,,.U.l  his  ohsorvations.     Ancthor  day  <-/-;  ^f ' 
have  iHvn  a,m.ahly  .pent  hero,    [at    K.n,ston,]    bn    OdoU. 
;sc.losin,u,..nn>o,   an,l    1    toa.v<l   that   fn.stnn,ht  .-tin 
,,,,i,h  wc.uUl  n.ako  traveling'  both  (litticnlt  an<l  a.sa^reoahle. 
It   was,   therefore,   with  pk>asure  that   I    learne.l    that    some 
bateanx  were  to  ,o  down   the  river  the  tbllown,,  nu.nnng 
,„a  I  ai.l  not  fail  to  be  at  the  water  snle  n.    nue  to  sc      u^a 
passa^H^bv  them.     *      *     *      The  Dnrhan.   boats  ot   the  M. 
.awrene;aresinuhu-  to   tl.ose<,n    the  Mohawk       In  sn.o,^ 
water  thev  nse  a  sail  or  oars,  but  are  foree<l  np  the  rapuls  In 
incessantVna  h.borions   ..ertions    with    the   poU-.      1  hey  are 
..nerallv  navi.ate.l  l>y  nativesof  the  Tnite,!  States.      1  he  ..ne 
iu  whieh  I  saiU..l  in  >h.y,  was  aeeonling  to  the  n.lorn.at.on  ot 
the  Captain,  ('.2  feet  in  keel,  an.l  11  feet  4  inehes  n>  Ik.uu.  She 
,,,,iea  abont  -iC  tons,  an.l  .Irew  ..nly  'iS  ineh.-s  oi  water.    She 
,„a  on  boanl  about  270  barrels  of  tlour,  whieb  sunk  her  oun- 
.vale  within  a    few    inehes  of  the   water  ;  and  to  aeien.    us  ,n 
passing  throufih  the  rapi.ls,   a   e<.uple  of  stout  planks,  about  a 
foot  in   breadth,   were  nailed   along-   the  sides ;  a  precaution 


DOWN'    TIFK    ST.    [.AWHKNCi;,   1818.  139 

which,  as  we  iiftorwiirds  cxporienced,  was  no  more  than 
needful. 

liatcMUx  arc  (lat-hottonicd  boats,  about  halftho  si/c  of  the 
otliers,  tapering'  to  a  jioiiit  at  each  end,  and  so  substantially 
constructed  that  they  will  endure  a  },n-eatdeal  of  hard  knocking 
on  the  channel  without  danger  to  the  passengers.  They  do 
not  sink  so  low  in  the  water  as  the  boats  navigated  by  Canadian 
voyagi'rs, — veterans  who  have  been  trained  from  their  youth 
to  the  use  of  tin;  pa<ldle  and  the  setting  pole,  and  who  know 
every  chamiel,  rock,  and  breaker,  in  the  rapids,  from  the 
Long  Sault  to  Montreal.  If  a  traveler  going  down  the  River 
has  his  choice,  let  him  by  all  means  prefer  the  bateaux  ;  it 
does  not  sail  as  fast  as  a  Durham  Ixnit,  and  he  may  be  a  day 
longer  in  nudcing  the  [)assage,  but  in  ordinary  cases  he  is  far 
safer. 

Passengers  by  either  of  these  vessels  must  take  with  them 
a  moderate  supply  of  i)rovisions,  for  it  is  not  cu.stomary  to  go 
on  shore  except  to  slec])  ;  and  if  the  wind  is  ahead,  four  or  five 
days  may  be  spent  between  Kingston  and  Montreal.  (Joing 
up  the  river  is  a  far  more  tedious  process.  They  should  also  be 
well  provided,  even  in  sunnner,  with  cloaks  or  other  covering.s, 
for  the  night  dews  on  the  rivers  are  excessively  cold. 

The  bateaux  sailed  from  Kingston  with  a  favorable 
breeze,  between  ten  and  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  and  while  the 
wind  lasted  got  on  gallantly  ;  but  towards  the  afternoon  we 
were  almost  becalmed  in  the  Lake  of  u  Thousand  Isles,  and 
our  voyagers  were  comi)elletl  to  tug  away  at  the  oar.  We  had 
four  rowers,  besides  the  conductor,  who  steered  with  a  small 
paddle.  The  scenery  of  tliis  Lake,  as  it  is  called,  is  very 
pictures(|ue,  but  tin;  succession  of  islands  becomes  at  last  tire- 
some, the  more  so  that  you  lind  them  take  the  wind  out  of  the 
L;ail,  and  wufully  retard  your  progress.     I  had  made  allowauutj 


110 


DOW.V    TIIK    ST.    I.AWUKXCK,   181M. 


for  Ji  reusonablc  proportion  of  cxnjrgcration  in  its  poetical 
name,  Init  tiic  Islands  crowded  upon  each  other  in  .such 
numerous  groups,  and  we  were  so  long  in  getting  clear  of 
them,  that  I  l)egan  at  last  todoubt  whether  there  might  be  two 
thousand  of  them  instead  of  one. 

They  are  of  all  sizes  ;  some  of  them  bare  rocks,  a  few 
feet  .s(iuare,  others  tw(»  or  three  miles  long,  and  thickly 
wooded.  Loch  Lomond,  with  her  two  dozen  islets,  has  long 
sheltered  the  manufacturers  of  tlie  genuine  peat  reek  from  the 
scent  of  the  Keveiuie  olHcers  ;  but  this  must  be  the  very  '>ara- 
dise  of  smugglers,  .should  such  a  trade  ever  beciome  p'  bio 
in  Upper  Canada — and  a  hopeless  business  it  will  bef,  !se 

men  who  are  sent  to  ferret  them  out. 

Towards  evening  it  liegan  to  rain  ;  but  .some  of  the  com- 
pany on  board  were  more  disagreeable  than  the  weather. 
*  *  *  *  Hut  for  their  presence,  1  could  have  endured  the 
rain  for  an  hour  or  two,  to  listen  to  the  boat  songs  of  the 
Canadian  voyagers,  which  in  the  stillness  of  the  night  had  a 
peculiar  pleasing  effect.  They  kept  time  to  tiie.se  songs  as 
they  rowed  ;  and  the  splashing  of  the  oars  in  tin;  water, 
combined  with  the  wildne.ss  of  tlieir  cadence,  gave  a  romantic 
character  to  our  darksome  voyage. 

In  most  of  the  songs,  two  of  the  boatmen  began  the  air, 
the  other  two  sang  a  respon.^e,  and  then  all  united  in  the 
chorus.  Their  music  might  not  have  been  thought  extremely 
tine,  by  those  who.se  skill  in  concords  and  chromatics  forbids 
them  to  be  gratified  ])nt  on  ."Scientific  principles.  My  conven- 
ient ignorance  of  tho.se  rules  allowed  me  to  reap  undisturbed 
enjoyment  from  the  voyagers'  melodies,  which  like  many  upon 
Scotch  airs,  were  singularly  plaintive  and  pli'asing. 

Our  conductor  expected  to  have  reached  Brockville  that 
cveuin;^,  a  small  town  alj;jut  ol)  miles  below  Kingston,  but  we 


DOWN    TItK    ST.     I.AWHKXCK,    ISIS. 


141 


begun  to  lu'  snnu'what  impiiticnt  togcton  shoro.  The  evening 
was  so  (lark,  that  we  eould  with  ditHculty  distinguish  even  the 
sliadowy  oulMne  of  the  river  ;  not  a  sound  was  lieard  around 
us  but  the  ech(»  of  the  voices  of  those  on  board,  or  the  sphish 
of  tiie  oars  ;  and  we  were  gliding  ah)ng  with  no  other  convic- 
tions of  safety  than  what  arose  in  (irni  confidence  in  our 
boatmen.  Al»out  eight  o'clock  a  twinkling  light  by  the  river's 
side  broke  upon  (»ur  view  ;  we  hailed  the  cheering  spark,  and 
urged  the  conductor  to  haul  in  to  the  V)ank,  in  the  hope  of 
obtaining  lodgings.  It  was  a  fanner's  house  ;  n  crackling  fire 
of  pine  logs  blazed  on  the  aini)le  hearth,  festoons  of  sliced 
a[»ples  for  winter  pies,  hung  around  it  to  dry,  and  the  com- 
fortable kitchen  contrasted  most  agreeably  with  our  situation 
in  the  bateau  in  du  kiicss  and  rain.  1'he  inmates  made  us 
welcome  to  their  fireside,  and  although  not  much  used  to 
entertain  strangers,  very  soon  |)rovided  for  us  a  nio.st  comfor- 
table sup[)er.  J  lot  steaks,  fried  bacon  and  potatoes  for  those 
who  preferred  it,  tea  and  toast,  were  served  up  with  an  alacrity 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  regular  inn.  It  scarcely  '.leeds 
to  be  added,  that  we  enacted  wonders  with  the  knife  and  fork. 
When  the  time  of  retiring  came,  every  bed  in  tlie  house  was 
surrendered  for  our  use  ;  but  iinding  that  I  could  not 
particijjate  in  one,  unless  1  accei)ted  a  bed-fellow,  I  })referred 
my  box-coat  and  the  Hoor. 

About  two  o'clock  next  morning,  we  were  aroused  to 
resume  our  voyage.  The  boatmen  before  starting  swallowed 
a  plentiful  allowance  of  soup  thickened  with  meat  and  bread, 
very  similar  to  what  sailors  call  lobscoss  :  the  players  fortified 
themselves  for  the  water  by  an  antiphogmatic  of  rum. 

'i'he  wind  had  shifted  during  the  night,  and  was  now 
right  ahead.  It  was  a  genuine  American  Xorth-wester,  and 
blew  as  if  it  were  resolved  to  take  the  skin  oti"  Qur  cheeks.   The 


142  I'OWX    THE   ST.    l.AWRESCK,   1818. 

w.tcr  fimo  upon  tho  oars,  :.,  Acy  rose  above  the  surface  ;  aurt 

,ove    appr  oiale.1  better  the  eon,..,rts  of  a  tb.ok  t„>vebng 

e^t  an/a  fur  ca,,.     Our  boat.uen  lu„!  to  row  «-,thout  mte  - 

,   ssiou;  laltboUKb   tbey  ,b,l   not  "•-'.- l."nve,,^ba 

Ibev  luL'Ke.1  awav  «itb  ann,/.n,g  eonstancy.  About  mm 
oeiock  in  the  rn„n,in«.  «e  reaehecl  I-rescott.s,xty-seven  nnle. 
from  Kingston. 


Jit 


Captivity  of  Hrs,  Howe,  1 755. 


The  nari'iitive  of  Mrs.  Jominia  Howe's  captivity  was  first 
published  in  a  boolvlot,  and  later  was  po[)ularized  in  the  seliool 
readers  of  80  years  ago.  The  i'Oi)y  from  which  tliis  is  repro- 
duced is  characterized  by  the  modified  f  for  s  in  all  instances 
except  at  the  end  of  a  word,  as  "fons." 

As  Messrs.  Caleb  Howe,  Hilkiah  (Jrout,  and  Benjamin 
(raffield,  who  had  been  hoeing  corn  in  the  meadow,  west  of  the 
river,  were  returning  home  a  little  before  sunset  to  a  place 
called  Bridgman's  Fort,  they  were  fired  upon  by  twelve 
Indians,  who  had  ambushed  their  path.  Howe  was  on  horse- 
back, with  two  young  lads,  his  children,  behind  him.  A  ball, 
which  broke  through  his  thigh,  brought  him  to  the  ground. 
His  horse  ran  a  few  rods  and  foil  likewise,  and  both  the  lads 
were  t.iken.  The  Indians  in  their  savage  naanner,  coming  up 
to  Howe,  pierced  his  body  with  a  spear,  tore  off  his  scalp,  stuck 
a  hatchet  in  his  head,  and  left   him  in  this  forlorn  condition. 

He  was  found  alive  the  next  morning  after  by  a  party  of 
men  from  Fort  Hin.sdale;  and  being  asked  by  one  of  the  party 
whether  he  knew  him,  he  answered.  Yes,  I  know  you  all. 
These  were  his  last  words,  though  he  did  not  expire  until 
after    his    friends   had   arrived   with   him  ut   Fort   Kinibdale. 


144 


CAPTIVITY    OK    MI5S.    IIOWK,   IT").*). 


Grout  was  so  fortunate  as  to  escajx'  unluirt,  hut  (Jiiffield  in  the 
attempt  to  wade  througli  the  river  whicli  was  iinU'ed  t'orchihle 
at  tliat  time,  was  unfortunately  drowned.  Flushed  with  tlie 
success  they  liad  met  here,  thesavafj;es  went  (hrectly  to  liridj;- 
inan's  Fort.  There  was  no  man  in  it,  and  only  three  women 
and  some  children,  Mrs.  Jeminui  Howe,  Mrs.  Suhmit  (irout, 
and  Mrs.  Eunice  Gaffield. 

Their  hushands  I  need  not  mention  ajiain,  and  their 
feelings  at  this  junction  T  will  not  attempt  to  deserihe.  They 
had  heard  the  enemies'  guns,  hut  knew  not  what  had  happened 
to  their  friends.  E.vtremely  anxious  for  their  safi'ty,  they 
stood  longing  to  emhrace  them,  until  at  length,  concluding 
from  the  noise  thay  heard  without  that  some  of  them  were 
come,  they  unharred  the  gate  in  a  hurry  to  receive  them  ; 
when  lo !  to  their  inexpressible  disappointment  and  surjirise, 
instead  of  their  hushands,  in  rushed  a  number  of  hideous 
Indians,  to  whom  they  and  their  tender  oHsj)riiig  l)ecame  an 
easy  pray  ;  and  from  whom  they  had  nothing  to  ex])ect  but 
either  an  immediate  death,  or  a  long  ca|)tivity.  The  latter  of 
these,  by  favor  of  Providence,  turned  out  to  h(>  the  lot  of  these 
unha])py  women,  and  their  still  more  unhapi)y,  bccanse  more 
hel})less,  children  Mrs.  Gattield  had  but  one,  .Mrs.  (Jnut  had 
three,  and  Mrs.  Howe  seven.  The  eldest  of  Mrs.  Ilowt^'s  was 
eleven  years  old,  and  the  youngest  but  .six  months. 

The  two  eldest  were  daughtei's,  which  slu'  had  liy  her  ti'st 
husband,  ^^r.  William  I'hipps.  who  was  also  shiiii  by  tlie 
Indians,  of  which  '  doubt  not  but  you  have  see  an  acconnt  in 
Mr.  Doolittle's  history.  It  was  from  the  mouth  of  tliis  woiiuin 
that  I  lately  received  the  foregoing  accf»unt.  She  also  gave 
me,  I  doubt  not,  a  true,  though,  to  ix'  sui'e,  a  very  brief  and 
imperfect  history  of  her  captivity,  wiiich  I  here  insert  for  your 
perusal.    The  Indians,  (she  says)  having   plundered   and  p;it 


(Al'TlVlTV    Of   Ml!S.  lIOWi:,  lint}.  14' 

iire  to  the  fort,  we  marclieil,  as  near  as  I  could  judge,  a  mile 
and  a  half  into  the  woods,  where  we  encamped  that  night. 
When  the  morning  came,  and  we  had  advanced  as  much 
farther,  six  Indians  were  sent  hack  to  the  i)lace  of  our  late 
abode,  who  collected  a  little  more  plunder,  and  destroyed  some 
other  etlects  that  had  been  left  behind  ;  but  they  did  not  return 
until  the  day  was  so  far  si)ent.  that  it  was  judged  best  to  con- 
tinue where  we  were  through  the  night.  Early  the  next 
morning  we  set  off  for  Canada,  and  continued  our  march  eight 
days  successfully,  until  we  had  reached  the  place  where  the  In- 
dians had  left  their  canoes, about  fifteen  Jiiiles  from  Crown  Point. 
This  was  a  long  and  tedious  march  ;  but  the  captives,  by 
divine  assistance,  were  enabled  to  endure  it  with  less  trouble 
and  difficulty  than  they  had  reason  to  ex|)ect. 

From  such  .savage  masters,  in  such  indignant  circum- 
stances, we  could  not  rationally  hope  foi-  kinder  treatment  than 
we  received.  Some  of  us  it  is  true,  had  a  harder  lot  than 
others;  and  among  the  children,  J  thought  my  ^on  Hcpiire 
had  the  hardest  of  any.  lie  was  then  only  lour  years  old,  i'.nd 
when  we  stopped  to  I'est  our  weary  limb.-!,  and  he  sat  down  on 
his  pvister's  i)ack,  the  .savage  monster  would  often  knock  him 
off;  and  sometimes  iua  with  the  handle  of  his  luilchet. 
Several  ugly  marks,  indented  in  his  head  by  tiii'cruel  Indians, 
at  that  tender  age,  are  still  plainly  to  be  seen.  At  length  we 
arrived  at  (Jrown  Point,  and  took  up  our  (|U'irter.-<  tliere,  for  the 
space  of  near  a  week.  In  the  nKMutinie,  s mie  of  tiie  Indians 
went  to  Montreal,  and  took  sevei'al  of  the  v.H'ury  (•aj)tives  idong 
with  them,  with  a  view  of  selling  lliciu  lo  ihc  French.  They 
did  not  succeed  however,  in  Inidiiig  a  niai'kcf  for  any  of  them. 
They  gave  my  youngest  daughter  to  tlie  governor,  de  Vau- 
dreuil,  had  a  drunken  frolic,  and  ictmned  again  to  Crown 
Point,  with  the  rest  of  tiieir  ])ris:tiiers.      From  hence  we  set  off 


140 


rAl'TINMTY    (»!•■    MHS.   1I(»\VI;,   17')"). 


for  8t.  John'8,  in  four  or  Hve  caiioos,  just  ns  niy-lit  was  comint'' 


on,  and  were  soon  surrounded  with  darkuc: 


A  1 


icavv  storm 


hung  over  us.  The  sound  of  the  rollinji'  thunder  was  very 
terrible  upon  the  waters,  which  at  every  flash  of  expansive 
lightning  seemed  to  be  all  in  a  blaze.  Yet  to  this  we  were 
indebted  for  all  the  light  we  enjoyi'd.  No  objeet  eould  we 
discern  any  longer  than  the  flashes  lasted. 

In  this  posture  we  sailed  in  our  open  tottering  canoes, 
almost  the  whole  of  that  dreary  night.  The  morning  indee(l 
had  not  yet  begun  to  dawn,  when  we  all  went  ashore :  and 
having  collecte(I  a  hea]»  of  sand  gravel  for  a  |)iilow,  I  lai<l 
myself  down,  with  my  tender  infant  by  my  side  not  knowing 
where  any  of  my  other  children  were  or  what  a  miserable 
condition  they  might  be  in.  The  next  day.  however,  mider 
the  wing  of  that  ever  present  and  all  powt'rf'ul  Providem-e, 
which  had  i)resi'rved  us  through  the  darkness  and  inuninent 
dangers  of  the  preceding  night,    we  all   arrived   in  .safety  at 


8t.   John's.     Our  next   movement   was 


to  St.    V 


rancois, 


th 


metropolis,  if  I  may  call  it,  to  which  the  Indians,  who  led 
us  ca])tive,  belonged.  Soon  after  our  ai-rival  at  that  wretched 
capital,  a  cf)uncil,  consisting  of  the  chief  Sachem,  and  .some 
{)rincipal  warriors  of  the  St.  Francois  tribe,  was  convened  ; 
and  after  the  ceremonies  usuid  un  such  occasions  were  over,  1 
was  con(lucte<l  and  deliveri'd  to  an  old  s(iuaw,  who  the  Indians 
told  me  I  must  call  my  mother,  ^^y  infant  still  continued  to 
be  the  property  of  its  original  Indian  owners.  I  was  never- 
theless permitte<l  to  keej)  it  with  me  a  while  longer,  for  the 
sake  of  saving  them  the  trouble  of  looking  after  it.  When  the 
weather  began  to  grow  cold,  shuddering  at  the  prosfx'ct  of 
ap}»roaching  winter,  I  aci|uainted  my  new  mother,  that  I  did 
not  think  it  would  be  |)os-ibIe  for  me  to  enduri'  it,  if  I 
must    spend    it    with    her,    and    share    as    the    Indians    did. 


(Al'TIVITY    OK    Ml.'S.   IIOWK 


I  .t.>. 


14< 


Listoniiifji;  to  my  rcix'atcd  and  oariiost  .solicitations  tliat  I 
iniglit  be  disjiosod  of  anionf^-  some  of  the  Frencli  iidial)itants  of 
Canada,  slu'  at  Icnutli  set  off  with  nie  and  my  infant,  attended 
l)y  some  male  Indians,  u|»on  a  journey  to  Montreal,  in  ho])e,s 
of  findintr  a  market  for  me  there.  P>nt  the  attempt  proved 
unsuecessful,  and  the  journey  tedious  indeed. 

Our  provision  was  so  seanty  as  well  as  insipid  and 
unsavory  ;  the  wi'ather  was  so  cold,  and  the  travelin,u-  so  very 
had,  that  it  often  seemed  as  if  I  must  have  perished  on  the 
way.  While  we  were  at  Montreal,  we  went  into  the  house  of 
a  eei'tain  l-'reiieh  j^cntleman.    whose    la<ly   heinj^'  si'iit  foi-,  and 

to  examine  me,  seeing  I 


oomiujii'  into  the  room  where    1    wa> 

had  an    infant,   exelaimed    with   an   oath, 

woman  who  has  a  ehild  to  look  after."     'i'l 


"  1    will  not  buy  a 
leri"  was  a  swill  pail 


standing- near  me,  in  which  I  oliserved  some  crusts  of  lii-ead 
swimming'  on  the  surface  of  the  j^reasy  licpior  it  contained. 
Sorely  pinched  with  hunji;i'r,  I  skimmed  them  otf  with  my 
hands,  and  ate  them  ;  und  this  was  all  the  refreshment  which 
the  hou.se  afforded  re.  Somewhere  in  the  course  of  this  visit 
to  Montreal,  my  Imlian  mother  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  catch 
tile  smallpox,  of  wliicli  distemper  sin;  died,  soon  after  our 
return,  whi(di  was  b\  watei-,  to  St.  I'"raiicois.  And  now  came 
on  tlie  .sea.'^on  wlu'U  the  Indians  be<;an  to  prepaii'  Uiv  a  win- 
tei-'s  hunt. 

I  was  vjnh'i'cd  to  return  my  poor  child  to  those  of  them 
who  still  clainu'd  it  as  their  ])ro|)erty.  This  was  a  sevei'e  trial. 
The  babe  clunji:  to  my  bosom  with  all  its  mioht :  but  I  was 
oblij>-e(l  to  pluck  it  thence,  and  deliver  it.  shriekin,ii-  and 
screamin<j;  enoujdi  to  penetrate  a  heart  of  stone,  into  the  hands 
of  those  unfeeliufi-  wretches,  who.^e  tender  mercies  may  be 
termed  cruel.  It  was  siton  carried  oil'  by  a  huntinji'  party  of 
thojp"  indiiuis,  to  a  place  called  MelHd<ow.  at  the  lower  end  of 


11,^ 


CAPTIVITY    OK    MHS     iroWK,  17;")'. 


l^ako  C'lmniplain,  whitlier,  in  about  a  mouth  after  it  was  my 
fortuue  to  follow  thorn.  Aud  here  I  fouud  it,  it  is  true,  but  iu 
a  c'ouditiou  that  aifonlod  me  uo  j>reat  satisfactiou  ;  it  bein^ 
greatly  omaeiated  aud  aluiost  starved.  I  took  it  iu  my  arms, 
put  its  face  to  iuiu(>,  aud  it  iustautly  bit  me  with  such  violeuee, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  I  luust  iiave  j)arted  with  a  piece  of  my 
cheek.  I  was  permitted  to  lod^e  with  it  that,  and  the  two 
followiu^  nights  ;  but  every  morning  that  intervened,  the 
Indians,  I  suppose  on  j)urpose  to  torment  me,  sent  me  away 
to  another  wigwam,  which  stood  at  a  little  distance,  though 
not  so  fur  from  tht  one  in  which  my  distressed  infant  was 
confined,  l)ut  that  I  i<»uld  plainly  hear  its  incessant  cries,  and 
heartrending  lameiuations.  In  tliis  deplorable  condition,  I 
was  obliged  to  take  my  leave  of  it,  on  the  morning  of  the  third 
day  after  my  arrival  at  the  i)lace.  We  moved  down  the  lake 
several  miles  the  same  day  ;  and  the  night  following  was 
remarkable  on  account  of  the  great  earth(|uake  which  terribly 
shook  that  howling  wilderness. 

Among  the  islands  hereabouts,  we  spent  the  winter  season, 
often  sliifting  our  (|uarters,  and  roving  about  from  one  place 
to  another  ;  our  family  consisting  of  three  persons  only,  beside 
myself,  viz.:  my  late  mother's  daughter,  whom  therefore  1 
called  my  sister,  her  sauhop,  and  a  pa})poose.  They  once  left 
me  alone  two  dismal  nights ;  and  when  they  returned  to  me 
again,  perceiving  them  smile  at  each  other,  I  asked  what  is  the 
matter?  They  replied,  that  two  of  my  children  were  no  more. 
One  of  which,  they  said,  died  a  natural  death,  and  the  other 
was  knocked  on  the  luad.  I  did  not  utter  many  word.s,  but 
my  heart  was  sorely  pained  within  me,  and  my  mind  exceed- 
ingly troubled  with  strange  and  awful  ideas.  1  often 
imagined,  for  instance,  that  1  j)lainly  saw  the  naked  carcasses 
of  my  deceased  children  hanging  upon  the  limbs  of  the  trees, 


OAI'TIVITY    ()!■•    Mits.    IK.WK,     17.*)."). 


Ul) 


{IS  the  Indians  are  wont  to  lianff  the  raw  Iiides  of  those  heasts 
which  they  take  in  hunting.  It  was  not  hjng,  however,  before 
it  was  ordered  by  kind  Provi(h-iiee.  that  I  slionld  be  reheved 
in  a  good  mea.sure  from  tho.se  horrid  iinagination.s ;  for  as  [ 
was  walking  one  day  upon  the  ice.  observing  a  smoke  at  some 
distance  upon  the  land,  it  uni.st  proceed,  thought  I,  from  the 
lire  of  .some  Indian  hut ;  and  who  knows  but  .some  one  of  my 
poor  children  may  be  there.  My  curiosity,  thus  excited,  led 
me  to  the  place,  and  there  I  found  my  son  Caleb,  a  little  boy 
between  two  and  three  years  old.  whom  I  had  lately  buried, 
in  .sentiment  at  least  :  or  rather  imagined  to  liavel)een  deprived 
of  life,  and  perhaps  also  denied  a  decent  grave. 

1  found  him  likewi.^e  in  tolerabh"  health  ami  circumstanees, 
under  the  protection  of  a  fond  Indian  mother;  and  moreover 
had  the  happine.ss  of  lodging  with  him  in  n)y  arms  one  joyful 
night.  Again  we  shifted  our  (piarters,  when  we  had  traveled 
eight  or  ten  miles  upon  the  snow  and  ice,  came  to  a  place 
where  the  Indians  manufactured  sugar  which  they  extracted 
from  ma})le  trees.  Here  an  Indian  came  to  vi.^it  us,  whom  I 
knew,  and  who  could  speak  Knglish.  He  asked  me  why  I  did 
not  go  to  see  my  .^on  S«|uire.  I  replied  that  1  had  lately  be<  n 
informed  that  he  was  dead,  fie  assui'ed  me  that  he  was  yet 
alive,  and  but  two  or  three  miles  otl',  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  Lake.  At  my  request,  he  gave  me  the  best  directions  he 
could  to  the  place  of  his  abode.  I  I'esolved  to  embrace  the  first 
opportunity  that  o(fere<l  of  endeavoring  to  search  it  out.  While 
I  was  bu.sy  in  contemplating  this  affair,  the  Indians  obtained 
a  little  bread,  of  which  they  gave  me  a  small  share.  I  did  not 
taste  a  morsal  of  it  myself,  l)ut  .saved  it  all  for  my  poor  child, 
if  r  should  be  so  lucky  as  to  find  him.  At  length,  having 
obtained  of  my  keepers  leave  to  be  absent  for  one  day,  !  set  off 
early  in  the  morning,  and  .steering,  as  well  as  1  could,  accord- 


ir.o 


CAI'TIVITV    OK    NriJS.    TIOWK.    IT.")'. 


iiiff  to  tlio  (iivcctioiis  wliicli  the  fVicndly  Indiiiii  had  givcli  lr\0, 
I  <|iiickly  fduiid  tlic  place,  wliicli  lie  liad  so  ai'curatoly 
iiiai'kcd  out. 

('  son  without  tlic  caiuj)  ; 


I  hchi'ld,  as  1  i\vv\v  nifili,  my  littl 
hut  111'  lo(ik('(h  tliou^ht  I,   like  a   starved   and  inanjiy  jnijipy. 


that 


Had 


I  teen    \va 


How 


niiJ'    ni 


tl 


le   asiies. 


I    took   liini  in  niv 


arms,  and  he  spuke  to  me  these  words,  in  tlie  Inchan  tonj^ue 


MuW 


ler,  are  vou 


come?"     J  took  liim  into  tlie  wiuwum  with 


me.  and  ol)servin<i-  a  nund)er  of  Indian  chilch'en  in  it,  I  (hs- 
trihuti'd  all  the  hi'ead  which  1  had  reserved  lor  my  own  child, 
uniong  them  all  :  otherwise  1  should  havejiiven  jj^reat  offbnce. 
.My  littU'hoy  appeared  to  he  very  fond  of  his  new  mother,  kept 
as  near  me  as  )iossil)U'  while  1  stayed  ;  and  when  I  told  him 
I  must  ^(\  he  fell  as  thou,u,li  he  had  heen  knocked  down  with 
a  cluh.  lUit  having' reconuiiended  hi)n  tothecareof  Ilim  who 
made  him,  when  the  day   was  fai'  spent,  and  the  time  would 


|»ernnt  me  to  stay  no  lonjicr,  1  departed,  you  may  well  suppose, 
ith  a  heavv  load  at  mv  heai't.     The  tidiniis  1  had  received  of 


w 


the  death  of  my  younji'est  child  had,  a  little  hefore,  heen  con- 
firmed to  me  heyond  a  d()ui)t  ;  hut  I  could  not  mourn  so 
heartily  for  the  deceased,  as  for  the  living  child. 

When  the  winter  hroke  up,  we  removed  to  St.  John's  ; 
and  thri)U<ih  the  ensuin<>'  summer,  our  princii)al  residence  wa.s 
at  no  <;-reat  distance  from  the  fort  at  that  idace.     In  the  mean- 


tune 


however,    mv   sister's  hushand   haviny   heen  out  witli  a 


scoutinj;  |)arty  to  some  of  the  l'Jitj:lish  settlements,  had  a 
di'unken  iVolic  at  the  foit,  when  lu'  returned.  His  wife,  who 
never  j^ot  drunk,  hut  had  often  experii'Uced  the  ill  effects  of 
her  husl)and's  intemperance,  fearing  what  the  con,se(iiience 
mijiht  pi'ovc,  if  he  should  come  home  in  a  morctse  and  turhu- 
lent  humor,  to  avoid  his  insolence,  pro|)osed  that  we  should 
hnth  i-etii-e.  and  keep  out    of  the   reach   of  it.    until  the  stoi'm 


{'AI'TIVnV    Of-    NrFiS.    IIOWK.    17')").  151 

abiited.  We  Mbscoiidcd  accord iiij>ly  ;  Imt  so  it  liapitciicd.  that 
I  returned,  and  ventured  into  his  |)resence,  helore  his  wife  had 
j)resunied  to  come  nij^h  liini.  I  I'ound  him  in  his  wij-wam. 
and  in  n  surly  mood  ;  and  not  Ix'inu'  iihieto  revenjic  upon  his 
wife,  hecause  she  was  not  at  home,  he  h-nd  hold  of  me,  and 
luirried  me  to  the  fort  ;  and  for  a  triliinji'  consideration,  sold 
mo  to  a  l-'rench  f>entleman,  whose  name  was  Saccapee. 

It  is  an  ill  wind  certainly  that  hlows  nolxxly  any  <i'ood.  1 
had  been  with  the  Indians  a  year  lacking- fourteen  days  ;  and, 
if  not  for  my  sister,  yet  for  me,  it  was  a  lucky  circumstance 
indeed,  wliich  thus  at  last,  in  an  unexpected  moment,  snatched 
me  out  of  their  cruel  hands,  and  placed  Jiie  beyond  tiie  reach 
of  their  insolent  j)ower.  After  my  Indian  master  had  dispose<l 
of  me  in  the  manner  related  above,  and  the  moment  of  sober 
reflection  had  arrived,  perceivino-  that  the  man  who  liad 
bought  mo  liad  taken  the  advanta.ue  of  him  in  an  unguarded 
hour.  Ins  resentment  be^an  to  kind!.',  and  his  indij^nation  rose 
so  l]if«b,  that  he  threatened  to  kill  me  if  he  should  meet  me 
alone:  or  if  he  could  not  reven<i('  himself  thus,  that  he  would 
sot  lire  to  the  fort.  I  was  therefore  secreted  in  an  upper 
chamber,  and  tlH>  fort  carefully  j^uarded,  until  his  wrath  had 
time  to  cool.  My  service  in  the  family  to  which  I  was  advan- 
ce(b  was  perfect  free(b»m,  in  comparison  with  what  it  had  been 
amonj>'  the  barbarous  Indians. 

My  new  master  an<l  mistress  were  both  as  kind  and  gen- 
erous towards  me  as  !  c(.uld  reasonably  expect.  !  .^iblom 
asked  a  favor  of  either  of  them,  but  it  was  readily  granted.  In 
conse(|Ucnce  of  which  I  had  it  in  my  power,  in  many  instances, 
to  administer  aid  and  refreshment  to  tlu'  poor  pri<onei's  of  mv 
nation,  who  wei'e  brought  into  St.  John's  durinjj,'  mv  abode  in 
the  family  of  the  above  mentioned  benevolent  and  hospitable 
Saccapee.      Vet  even  in  this  family-,  such  trials  anaited  me  as 


ir,2 


CAI'TIVITY    or    MHS.     H()\VK.     1  (•)•). 


r  luid  little  reason  toexpeet  ;  but  stood  in  need  of  a  larp;estoek 
of  ])ruden('e,  to  enable  me  to  encounter  tlieni.  in  tliis  I  was 
ffreatly  assisted  by  the  governor,  an<l  ( "olonel  Sebuyler,  who  was 
then  u  prisoner.  1  was  moreover  under  uns])eakablu  oblij^ations 
to  the  {governor  on  another  aeeount.  I  liad  received  intelligence 
from  ni\'  daughter  Mary,  the  ))urport  of  which  was,  that  there 
was  a  prospect  of  her  bt>ing  shortly  niarrie<l  to  a  young  !n<lian 
of  the  tribe  of  St.  I-'rancois,  with  which  tribe  she  had  continued 
from  the  beginning  of  her  cajttivity.  These  were  heavy 
tidings,  and  added  greatly  to  the  poignancy  of  my  other 
afflictions. 

However,  not  long  after  1  had  heard  this  melancholy 
news,  an  opportunity  j)resented  of  accjuainting  that  hunume 
and  generous  gentleman,  the  commander-in-chief,  and  my 
illustrious  benefactor,  with  this  affair  also,  who,  in  compassion 
for  my  sufferings,  and  to  mitigate  my  sorrows,  issued  his 
orders  in  good  time  and  had  my  daughter  taken  away  from 
the  Indians,  and  conveyed  to  the  same  nunnery  where  her 
sister  was  then  lodged,  with  his  express  injunction,  that  they 
should  both  of  them  together  be  well  looked  after,  a'^'l  t-'are- 
fully  educated,  as  his  a<lo|»ted  children.  In  this  school 
*  *  *  *  they  continued  while  the  war  in  those 
days  between  Franco  and  (ireat  Britain  lasted.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  which  war,  the  governor  went  went  home  to  France, 
took  my  oldest  daughter  along  with  him,  and  married  her 
there  to  a  French  gentleman,  whose  name  is  Cron  iicwis. 

He  was  at  Moston  with  the  fleet  under  Covuit  de  F.staing, 
(1778)  and  one  of  his  clerks.  My  other  daughter  still  con- 
tiTUiii\g  in  the  nunni-ry,  a  considerable  time  had  I'lapsed  after 
my  return  from  caj)tivity,  when  I  made  a  journey  to  Canada, 
resolving  to  use  my  Itest  endeavors  not  to  return  without  her. 
1  arrived  just  in  time  to  prevent  her  being  son t  to  Fruuce.  bhe 


CAl'TIVITY    OF    MUS.    HOWK,     1  <.).), 


In3 


\?ns  to  liiivc  gone  in  tlu!  next  vt'sscl  that  sailed  tor  that  i)hj('('. 
And  I  found  it  cxtn'nicly  ditlicuH  to  prevail  witli  iicr  to  (|uit 
the  nunnery  and  j^o  honi(>  with  mo.  Vea.  siie  aiisohitely 
refused  :  and  all  the  |tersuMf<ions  and  arguments  I  cnuld  use 
with  her  were  to  no  efJ'ect,  until  after  I  had  l)een  to  the 
governor,  and  ohtaineda  letter  tVom  him  to  the  superintendent 
of  the  nuns,  in  which  he    threatened,    if  my  daughter  shouM 


not  hi 


0  delivered  innuediatelv  intd   mv 


hand 


s,  or  f'ould  not  h» 


j)rcvailed  with  to  suhmit  to  my  p.irential  authority,  that  he 
would  .send  a  hand  of  soldiers  to  as.sist  me  in  hringing  her 
away. 

But  so  extremely  l)igote(l  was  she  to  the  customs  and 
religion  of  the  place,  that  after  all.  she  left  it  with  the  greatest 
reluctai'ce,  and  the  most  hitter  lamentations,  which  she  con- 
tinued as  we  passed  the  streets,  and  wholly  refused  to  i)e 
comforted.  My  good  friend.  Major  Small,  whom  we  met  t>n 
the  way,  tried  all  he  could  to  console  her  ;  and  was  so  very 
kind  and  ohliging  as  to  hear  us  company,  and  carry  my 
daughter  hehind  him  on  horsel)ack.  IJut  I  have  run  on  a 
little  hefore  my  story  ;  for  I  have  not  yet  informed  you  of  the 
means  and  manner  of  my  own  redemption  ;  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  which,  the  ri'covery  of  my  daughter,  just 
mentioned,  and  the  ransoming  of  some  of  my  children,  several 
gentlemen  of  note  contril>uteil  not  a  little  ;  to  whose  goodness, 
therefore  I  am  greatly  indehted,  and  sincerely  hope  I  shall 
never  be  so  ungrateful  as  to  forget  it. 

(.'olonel  Schuyler,  in  i)articular,  was  so  very  kind  and 
generous  as  to  advance  27<M)  livres  to  procuie  a  ran.som  for 
myself  and  three  children,  lie  accompanied  and  conducted 
us  from  Montreal  to  Alhany,  and  entertained  us  in  the  most 
Iriendly  and  hospitahle  manner  a  consideruhle  time  at  his 
own  house,  and  I  believe  entirely  at  his  own  expense. 


A  Pioneer's  Hardships. 

'  ,         11-       1   4I1.1H    tlw  voc'itiU  01  tiic  <-'A- 

;;U.:k  ana  natural  ubility.     In  1«53  ho  thus  wrote  ot  h.  ca.ly 

"''tilX-anuMothis  town,  (luunpion,   m   the  yoarlTU^^ 

I  tn^t,  cum  i.,„.llH,l(U'r   whon  ho  camo  on  tor 

with  Lon.uol  Storrs.  a    argo   l'^;'''''*^''^.''      ;  ^,,^.,^  ,,,iaing  in 

the  first  tinu.  to  viow   h.s   ,>urcha  0.  --^^^  .  ^j^,^,,,. 

St.uhon,inwlK.tisn.>w<)n.uh.     ou,^>.hut^-,<^        • 

l,,,<,ro,  lIor]<i.n..r.     Mr.  Slorrs   thon   hnvl   .oNcal- 
whose  business  it  was  to  c-arry  tho  nooossary  ,H.x 

expe.liti<.n  on  their  haeks.    This  was  lat. 

Jveleaonto<.thywhatwasealleath.                  ,      ,^  ^:^„  ,,„. 
ni,i...aisont,.e...y.verJ    >s^^^^^^  1  _,.  , 


A     I'Kt.VKKIi's    IIAHOSIIU'S, 


;>.) 


^''"" "P«»"    wlmt   wiis  ,.m1I,mI  \hr    Imvi„.|,   TrMct    ..„  the 

";>'•<!'  n.i.l  (..St  si.l,.  of  tl...  I'.lark  Hiv.r.  nn.l  ..x(,.M,|in..  ,,  .....at 
'ist:n,n..      hVo.ntl,..  Iliol,  h.lls  wr  .Irsm..!...!    th.  Hv.-r  in  m 
'"•■"  >••  <!"■  ini.i.ls.  call,.,!  |„n-  KmIIs.  nosv  kiw-u'i.  as  Cnrtliap. 
llHv  wrlnii,lr.|.nn.|  in  t\v..  .lays  ...n,,|o,v.1  Hi,,  tuw.islii,,,  (1.,.,, 
"II  tiiil,r.,kri,  \viM..ni..ss.     On  „ur  wav  .l..\vn.  Silas  S|„u-    (Ik,, 
'•  vouniri.iMn.  an.l  aftcnvanl   kn«.\vn   as  .Ju.l«v  St„\v,  nf  I.ow- 
v.llc.   ,|..nu..l    „s.       On    tl„.   tliir.1   .lay   wr   n-en.harkc.l    and 
l"''7''"'^'<'  "I.  til,.  riv.T,  an,l   it    uas   tw,.  ,iavs  l.ani  nnvini.' to 
P't  l.M,-k  a-ain  t..  Ili^l.  Falls.    As  I  hvVwu-  I  l.,.|or,.  ,n,.nti,.n(Hl 
't  u-Ms  lat,.  in  \„vi.nii.,.r.  an,l    tli,.  ni«l,t  wc-  uviv  „l,li^-,.,l  t,.  Ik' 
•'"^  ^^•'••■"•■<'unt,.n.,las,.v,.ivsn,.ust,.nn.     T„  ,,n,t,.ct  ,.ursdv,.s 
»'•<•«.  It  n.   s,.ni,.   ni,.asniv.    m>   nia,l,.  a  shantv   l.v   M^ttin-  up 
s(..m",-n.tcl.,.s.  an,IIayin.„n    ,„.l,.s,   an.l   oov,.n„M- thr.n  with 
'••'••.l.wk  hono-hs.      \V,.als„s,.att,.n.,I  l.ranclu.s  upon  tUv^myuu] 

"' "■'"••>'  t"  li''.  nn,I   i>y    nu.kino-  a    n.usino.  li,,,  in  IV,.nt  ,>f 

our  sh,.lt,-r,  u-,M-„ntnv,Ml  to  !.,'  v,.ry  conifortni.li..    IW  this  time 
<'ur  provisions  w,.,v   n,.arly  cxhaustnl.   an.l    uv  hail  l...fo,v  us 
tl'i'  |'rosp,.,.t  of  a  hunoi-y  ,lay.      P.nt  in  nsc,.n,liny-  tli.  river  we 
f<;''f-'-'«-I.v  l<ilh'.l  a  ,lu.-k  an.l  a  partri.l^e  ;  these  l,ein«'  stripped 
nl  tli,.|r  t,.athers  in  tlu-  evening;,  I    e.-ok,..!  them  for  our  l.ivak- 
tast  th,.  next  n.ornin^-.      I  pr,.paiv,l  them  as  nieelv  as  weeoul,! 
"•-th  ,.ur  seanty  in,.ans  ;  salt  we  ha,I  none.      I  hail  a  little  pork 
Mt:  tins  I  eut  m  small  hits  an.l  inserte.i  int..  the  Hesh  of  the 
ou-  s,  u-hen  it  serve.1  the  ,|„uhl.  p„,.p„s,  of  salt,an,l  hutter  for 
hMs  .no,      |„  ,,„|,  th,.m  I    .set   up  a  couple  of  er,.telu-,l  stieks 
'""l;"'"<lH'.-Mero,s.s,  an.l    from    it   by  strips  of  hark  su.spemle.l 
my  towls  l.,.rore  the  lire,  where    they  coked  most  beautifully 
'".<l  were  allin  o,,o.l   time  partaken  ,>f  by  the  company  with' 
•■'IV  n.lish.     In,lee,l,  Messr.s.  Storrs  an.l  Stow  declared  they  had 

"*'''^''' ''"*^'"  ^"  «■ >•      Ihmgov  an.l  a   limited   supply  oave  a 

keenness  of  reli.sh  not  often  experience,!.  '    "^ 


150 


A  pioxekr's  hardships. 


In  due  time  wo  arrived  safe  and  well  in  Steuben,  from 
whence  we  had  started,  where  I  passed  the  winter.  Mr.  Storrs 
offered  ine  very  liberal  indueements  to  come  on  here  and  ac- 
cept them,  though  I  may  say  in  ](assin«i'  and  then  dismiss  the 
subject  forever,  that  he  failed  to  fulfill  hisliluTal  oilers.  l*ut  in 
consideration  of  those  offers,  1  k'ft  my  home  in  Steuben  the  1st 
of  June,  ITi'S,  and  startecl  for  this  place,  accompanied  by 
Salmon  Ward  and  David  Starr,  with  fifteen  head  of  cattle. 
We  traveled  again  upon  the  I'^rench  road,  as  far  as  it  availed 
us.  "^I'liis  township  had  been  .surveyed  by  Benjamin  and 
Moses  ^^'right,  the  year  'tefore,  and  this  year  Mr.  Storrs  had 
engagecl  li.  W.  to  survey  Mounfifield,  and  on  his  way  there  he 
was  to  mark  a  road  to  this  place,  and  to  precede  me.  I  met 
the  surveyors  agnn-ably  to  ai)i)ointment  at  a  Mr.  IIoa<lley"s, 
and  from  there  we  came  on  to  what  is  called  Turin  Four 
Corners.  There  was  oidy  one  log  house  there  then.  From 
there  we  went  west  about  thirty  or  forty  rods  to  Zaceheus 
Iligby's.  There  we  laid  down  our  maps  and  consulted  them, 
and  came  tft  the  conclusion  to  take  from  thence  a  north  course. 
This  led  us  upon  to  the  toj)  of  a  hill,  now  known  as  the  Tug- 
Hill.  We  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  face  ()f  the  country. 
an<I  of  the  lUost  eligible  route  to  pursui',  and  therefore  took  the 
one  which  seemecl  the  most  direct,    not    knowing  the  obstacles 


to  l)e  encountered.      We  bad  liel'or( 


•onie  down  l»v  wat<  r,  ;in 


1 


on  this  route  there  was    not   even  a    marked  tree 
d  ".ty  of  the  surveyors  to  preced 


it 


\\i[! 


the 


e  us,  mark  a  road  and  chain  it. 
Mr.  W.  started  in  advance  of  us  for  tliis  purpose.  It  was  a 
beautiful,  (dear  morning  and  we  Ibllowed  on.  jirogressing 
linelv  imtil  the  middle  of  tiie   afternoon,    when    we  i-niie  to  a 


irulf,  and  an  alunidanee  of  marked    tree; 


W 


e  went  ovel'  tilt 


gulf  but  coidd  fmd  no  more   trees  marl<e(l.      We  then  made  a 
lire  iind  took  out  the  sto|>j)ings   from    oiu'  l)ells,  and  sull'ered 


A  pioxeee's  hardships. 


157 


our  cattlo  to  food  aror.^d  the  fire,  whilo  we  set  ourselves  to 
search  for  marked  trees,  over  the  ^mli:s  and  up  and  down,  but 
eouM  find  no  place  to  cross,  or  marks  In-  which  to  determine 
what  course  th<.  surveyors  liad  taken,  'in  this  predicament 
we  prepared  to  construct  a  sJielter  for  the  night  of  hemlock 
houghs. 

'I^he  next  morning  the  sun  came  uj)  clear  and  bright,  and 
1  calh'd  a  c(.uncil.    1  told  the  men  how  much  damage  it  would 
be  to  mo  to  return,  how  great  a  loss  not  to  proceed,  and  asked 
them  if  they  were  willing   to   come  o,.       David   Starr  replied 
that  he  wouM  go  to  h— 1,  if  I  would.   Though  no  way  desirous 
of  going  to  the  latter  place,   even   in  good   company,  I  deter- 
mined to  come  on,   if  such   a    thing  were  possible,  without  a 
compass  or  guide.      We  then  set  ourselves  to  work,  and  felled 
trees,  with  which  we  nuide  i,n  enclosure,  into  which  we  drove 
our  cattle,  and  then  .^hoved  them  down  the  precipice,  one  after 
another  :  tluy  went  up  slantingly  on  the  other  side,  and  much 
better  than  we  got   them  down,   so  that   linally  they  were  all 
safely   t)ver,   after  much    toil   and   trouble.     I  then  agreed  to 
I'ilol  (he  company  down,  took  off  the  ox  bell;  and  carried  it  in 
my  hand,  leading  the  way.  and  steered   a  north  course  by  the 
sun  and  watch.     Wc  had  the  a.lvantage  of  a  bright  suns'hine. 
We  had  to  cross  a  number  of  gulfs,  and  one  windfall,  which 
was  the  woi'st  of  all.     W,.  continued    to  travel  upon  the  .sum- 
mit of  the  hill,   where  we   found   much    tine  table  land.     The 
eattic  would  travel  as  fast  jis  I  ronld  h,„l  (]„.  ^^ay.     One  man 
drove  them,  and  another  Ibllowcd.   axe   in  hand,  to  mark  the 
lre<'s.  and  leave  traces  behind  us,  so   that  if  we  could  not  ad- 
vance, we  could  trace  onr  steps. 

We  descended  (he  hiH  lK.f„iv  reaching  Deer  River.  The 
latter  we  struck  an<l  crossed  above  the  falls— not  far  from 
where  \]w  village  of  ('..p.)nhagen  now  stands— and  coming  on, 


158 


A     IMOXKKI!  S    HAKDSini'S. 


k'o  succeeded  in  fiiidiiifi-  the  town  line,  wliieli  wns  idciitilied  l)y 


mar 


ked  t 


rees.  not  far  from  wliefe    tlie   to]]-t>ate  now  is.  on  the 


Champion  and  CopenlKi^en  I'iank  Roatl.  We  tlien  elianu'eil 
our  course,  followinu'  the  line  to  the  I)hiek  River,  at  Lonji' 
Falls,  where  we  arriveil  hefori' iii^lit.  We  there  found  Mr.  W. 
and  men.  They  had  not  arrived  more  than  an  hour  Itefore 
us.     AVhen  seeing-  us,  Mr.  W.  exclaimed  : 


"Jlow,  in  the  name  of(iod,  have  von    tiot  here 


re- 


)lied 


You    scouudi'el  !    you   ou^ht    to   l)e  l)uriit    for    leavini 


us  so 


It  was  H  most  rascally  piece  of  husincss,  their  lenvinj^'  us 
as  they  did.  i)Ut  1  suppose  tlie  truth  was,  they  tlioujiht  if 
impossible  for  us  ever  to  get  through  with  oui'  cattle  :  hut  this 
does  not  excuse  them  for  not  having  marked  the  road  ;  "twns 
for  that  they  were  sent — and  if  othei's  eould  not  follow,  they 
were  not  answerable  ;  but  their  duty  was  plain  tu'fore  them. 

My  boat,  which    I    had  dispateheil    from   the  High  l''all>. 


-ooi 


I   after  ari'ived,    with    my    provisions,    y 


okes,   cliam? 


mil 


cooking  utensils.  The  next  day  we  left  one  to  watch  our 
effects,  while  the  others  were  searching  for  a  desiiidile  locjitii  n. 
In  a  few  days  I  selected  the  farm  upon  which  1  now  live, 
principally  for  tlu' reason  that  it  was  the  centre  of  the  town- 
ship, rather  than  for  any  ]ieculiar  advantngcs  it  posscsseil  over 
other  portions  of  the  town.  Vet  the  soil  has  iirovcd  good,  and 
sufficiently  luxuriant  with  proper  cultivation.  This  was  wluit 
I  sought,  a  good  agricultural  location,  rather  than  one  possess- 
ing In-draulic  [)rivi leges. 

Not  one  tree  had  lieen  cut  here  i'or  the  jmrpose  of  mnking 
a  settlement,  noi'  was  there  a  white  man  setde(|  in  what  is  now 
th 


e  coun 


ty   of  .Jefferson,    when    1    came   Ix're.      I  was  the  lirst 
white   settler  in   the  countv.      I    remained   here  throu;;h   thi' 


A    I'lONKKRs    IIAKI)8IIII'S. 


Wd 


sumiuer,  and  until  Och.lK'v,  (.noMf.i..l  in  making  a  clearing. 
We  then  returned  to  .Steuben,  where  my  family  was,  to  spend 
the  winter. 

During  the  summer,  some  families  had  come  into  Low- 
ville,  and  Mr.  Storrs   hud   caused   a  road    to  be  marked  from 
there  to  the  Long  Falls,  and  by  that  we  retui-ned,  driving  oui' 
cattle  hf.me  again.     These  had  become  fat,  by  running  in  the 
woods,  dui'ing  the  summer,  and  I  sold  them  for  beef     J  would 
mention  here,  though  rather  out  of  plac.  ,  tliat  I  found  a  living 
spring  of  pure  water,  a  few  rods  l)efore  where  the  public  hou.'^e, 
in  Champion,  now  stands,  which  bad  its  influence  in  deciding 
my  location.     Near  it  1  built  my  first  house,  and  there  I  kej)t 
"  bachelor's  hall  "   two   summers,  being  niy.self  "chief  cook." 
My  first  habitation  was  a  cal)in,  ei'ected   in  a  few  hours'  time, 
with  the  aid  of  my  men.      It  was  a   rude  structure,  but  served 
onr  ])urpose.     We  first  set  ,^ome  i»osts,  and  then,  having  felled 
great  trees,  stripped  them  of  the  l)ark,  and,   with  this,  covered 
the  roof  and   three  sides  of  our   dwelling,   the   front   was  left 
opened,  so  that  it  may  truly  be  said,  we  kept  open  house.  The 
c(.vering  was  kept  firiidy  in  its  place  by  withes  of  bark,    .\fter 
the  completion  of  our   house,   the   ne.xt  most  nece.ssiry  thing, 
was  an  oven,  in  which    to  l)ake   our  bread,  for  bread  we  must 
have,  it  being  the  staff  of  life.     This  was  soon  made,  with  two 
logs  for  a    foundation,   and   a    Hat  stone   thereon,   the  .super- 
structure    was    soon    reaivd    with    smaller    stones,     eeniented 
togetli.T  by  ,1  mortar  of  niu.'k,  from  the  side  ..f  thespriug.  and 
er<.wnedbya  Hat  stone.      This  answered  my  pm'pose  as  well  as 
onei.f  moiv  claboi'ate  eonslruetion.      For  a  door,  wesjdit  out  a 
plank  of  basswood  :  and  for  a  kneading-trough,  we  again  had 
I'ccourse  to  the   basswocx 


rtMpiired  length  ami   d 


dug  out,   Witll    HU     HX 


)od,    from    whence    we  cut    a   log  of  the 
imeiisions,  split    it,    and   from  one  half, 


e,  and   an   instrument  named   a  howtjll, 


100 


A    I'I(im:i;i; 


IIAIMlSlllPS. 


which  we  had  brought  tor  sudi  pui'poscs.  iii  a  shoi't  tinu',  a 
trough,  which  answi'rcd  our  purpose  wry  well.  1  hroiiglit 
some  yeast  with  me.  to  make  my  first  l)ateh  of  bi'ead  ;  after 
that,  I  used  leaven,  kept  and  ])ii'pared  after  directit)ns  given 
me  by  my  wife,  before  leaving  home.  Whatever  may  be  said 
of  our  cooking,  in  general,  I  am  sure  none  ever  seemed  sweeter 
to  me,  or  was  eaten  with  a  better  relish  by  others  ;  labor 
sweetened  every  mouthful.  AVe  had  cowsand  plenty  of  milk. 
We  sometimes  washed  dishes,  when  we  could  not  remend)er 
what  we  last  ate  uj)on  them,  but  oftener  turned  them  the 
bottom  side  up,  there  to  remain  until  wanted  again.  Some 
even  pretend  to  say.  that  wbeii  our  tat)li'  needed  scouring,  we 
sj)rinkled  salt  upon  it,  and  jiut  it  out  for  the  old  cow  to  opei'ate 
upon.  However  that  may  be,  I  am  suri'.  if  we  ever  did  do  it, 
it  must  have  come  from  under  her  scouring  ;ipparatus  exceed- 
ingly white.      But  the  whole  story  is  rather  aproc  ryi-hal. 


Earl 


v  in 


tht 


)ring,   17t(!>,    1   sent  on   two  men,  to  nuike 


sugar,  before  1  came  on  myself.  They  commenced  making- 
sugar,  and  one  day  went  out  hunting,  leaving  their  sugar 
boiling.  The  conse(|Uence  was,  the  house  took  fire  and  burni'd 
down,  with  all  of  the  little  it  contained.  During  the  winter, 
the  Indians  had  stolen  all  the  cooking  utensils  i  had  left,  and 
the  potatoes  which  1  had  I'aisi'd,  and  burieil  the  autumn  liefore. 
Thus  my  ric  :•  s  were  taking  to  themselves  wings,  and  flying 
away.     1  came  on  soon  after.     This  spring,    Ks(|uir('  Mix  and 


famil 


\  came  on 


■lulin 


lud 


nomas 


Ward,    I'liibraim  ( 'liam- 


berlain,  Samuel  and  David  Stiii'r,  Jotham  Mitchell.  Salmon 
Ward  and  Hela  Hubbard.  David  Miller,  and  IJoutin,  a 
Frenchnnin,  came  to  Carlbage  Tlu^  al)ove  were  all  young, 
unmarried  men,  sav<'  Mix.  We  continued  our  labors  tbi'ough 
the  sununer  of  17!M>.  but  not  with  that  spirit  which  we  should 
have  done,  had  not  a  rumor   reached   us  of  the  failure  oi'  Mi'. 


A   i'ii»Ni;i;i;'s   ii.\i!i)Si:ii's.  l(;j 

Storrs,  H.,,1  (he  prcbabilify   that   uc  should  lose,  not  only  all 
our  h.hor,  hut  the  money  which  I  hii.I  i.dvmioe.l  for  my  land 
Hut  I  will  not  enh'rinto   j.artieulars   here— let  it  suffice  that  1 
could  not  aflonl  to  lose  all    I   had   done  and  i.aid,  and  conse- 
quently entered  into  a  compromise  with  him,  to  save  a  moiety 
ot  what  was  justly  mine— of  not  only  what  1  had  actually  paid 
ior,  hut  of  what  I  was  to  have  had,  for  leading  the  way  in  this 
first  settlement  of  a  new  country,  and  suhjecting  myself  again 
to  all  Its  discomforts  and    inconveniences.     Consequently   in 
view  of  making  this  my  permanent  home,  F  moved  mv  family 
licre  u.   the  autumn   of  17!»!).     \Vc.  had   a   very  unfiivorable 
tunc,  t<.  come.     There  had  heen  a  snow  storm,  in  which  about 
SIX  inches  of  snow  had  tailen.     \\V   were  obliged  to  travel  on 
horseback,  the  horses'  feet  balled  badlv  ;  we  had  sloughs  to  go 
through,  and  altogi'ther,  it  was  very   uncomfortable  traveling 
in  that  manner,  with  children.     We  arrived  at  Mr.  Jloadley's 
the  first  night,  and   our  ox-teams   and   goods  the  next  d-xy 
From  there,  we  came  to   the    High    Falls,   where  1  had  a  boat 
awaiting  us,  which  I  had  caused  to   be  built  for  my  own  use 
Here  we  embarked   with  all  our  goods  and   chattels,  of  all 
kinds,  loading  tiie  boat  to  its  utmost  capacity,  so  that  when  all 
were  in.  it  was  only  about  four  inchen  out  of  water. 

We  spent  one  night  at  the  Lowville  landing,  where  a 
family  were  living.  During  the  evening,  there  came  in  a 
number  of  men,  wet,  coM  and  hungrv.  Among  them  was 
onv  named  Smith.  He  went  to  pull  off  the  boots  of  one  of  his 
companions,  which  was  very  wvi  and  clinging  close  Ho 
]>ulle.l  with  all  his  might— the  other  bracing  himself  against 
him  as  firmly  as  possible.  All  at  ..nee,  and  with  unexpected 
suddeness,  the  boot  canu«  off,  andpoorSmith  was  sent  with  his 
hare  feet,  into  a  IkhI  of  live  coals.  There  was  both  music  and 
<lancing  for  oi '  -' 


■ '  I     » '1 1\       n 


162 


A    IMONKKK  S    IIA  HDSIIU'S. 


We  iirrivod   at  the   Lonji,'   Falls,   about   noon,  the  seeond 
(lav  from  our  etnharkation.     The  weather  had    hv   this  time 


bee 


ouu 


e  warm  and  j)leasant.     Our  oxen  arnvetl   soon   a 


ifter  b\ 


land,  we  unloaded  our  boat,  put  our  wagon  together,  loaded  it 
with  some  of  oui-  etieets,  set  otf,  and,  before  night,  reached  our 
"  wilderness  home.'  My  wife  said  in  view  of  the  (iifHculties 
in  getting  here,  that  if  she  had  anything  as  good  as  a  eave  to 
live  in,  she  wf>uld  not  return  in  one  year  at  least.  She,  of 
ehoiee,  walked  from  the  Falls  here,  a  dist;nice  of  four  miles 
through  the  forest.  We  arrived  on  the  17th  of  Nov.,  17!)!). 
The  weather  continued  pleasant  until  the  27th,  when  it  com- 
menced snowing,  the  river  soon  froze  over,  the  snow,  of  which 
a  great  (piantity  fell,  and  continuing  to  fall,  lasted  all  winter, 
and  we  were  entirely  cut  olf  from  all  intercourse  with  the 
world.  I  kept  fifteen  head  of  cattle  through  the  winter,  by 
browsing  them.  an<l  they  wintered  well.  Isolated  though  we 
were,  yet  I  never  pa.ssed  a  more  comfortable  winter.     We  had 


a  [)lenty  of  provisions  ;   my   w 


heat,   1   had   raised  her(\  a  ver 


y 


tine  crop  from  seed  sown  in  the  autunni  of  17!)S,  and  my  pork, 
etc.,  was  fnttened  in  '  )iioida  County,  and  brought  here  by  boat. 
And  take  it  altogether.  1  pt'i'hajts  settled  this  country  as  easy 
as  any  one  I'ver  si'ttleil  a  new  country,  as  completely  isohited 
as  this  was  iit  thfit  time,  and  easier  than  1  settle(l  in  Steuben, 
IS  miles  from  I'tica.  At  that  time  we  had  to  go  to  I'tica  or 
Whit<'sbor(iugh  for  ])rovisions,  and  it  always  took  one  dfiy  to 
go  out,  ;ind  anotliei-  to  i-eturn,  incredible  iis  it  may  now  seem. 
In  the  spring  of  ISOO,  people  bi'gan  to  Hock  into  the  counti-y 
liv  hundreds,  and,  as  mv  lou  house  atlbrdec' 


lu'  oniv  accom- 


modation foi'  wayfaring  men,    we   wei'<*  obliged  to  keej)  them. 


whether  we  would  or  no  ;  someti 


nic 


ill! 


d   that  verv  often,  mv 


tloors  weri'  strewn    with   human  beings  as  thick  as  they  could 
lie,  som(>  .so  near  the  huge  fin;  t)lace  as  not  to  passu nseorched  ; 


A    I'lONKKIi's    IIAKIlSIIIl'S. 


103 


one  man  in  particular,  it  was  sai.l  l.y  his  (•..iiipanions.  Iiad  liis 
head  baked,  by  too  close  a   proximity  (o  the  oven.     Tiiis  rush 
continued  two  or   three   years,   and    was   full    ,,1    incident  and 
interest,  but  at  this  distance  ..f  time    '  can  not  nrall  these  in- 
cidents  with   sufficient    accuracy    to  detail    them    here.       The 
town  settled  rapidly  with  an  intellij.-ent  and   energetic  ela.ss  of 
people.     The  society  was   t'uo.l  ;   it    mioht    h,.  ,.;,11,,I  yood  anv 
where.       Perhaps  there   was   never   a    more   intelligent    anil 
interesting   people   congicfrated   to^M-ther  in   an   obscure  little 
inland  town,  than   in   this,    within   a   frw  years  from  its  Hrst 
settlement.     I  can  not   state  the  ord.M-  of  time  in  which  thev 
came,   but  the    names    of    a     ivw    of    them     I    will    record, 
that  in  future  time,   when   this   place  shall   have  sunk    into 
in.significance,  as  it  too  probably  will,  before  th(>  greater  lights 
arising  around  it,  it  may  be  known  that  we  were  once  honored 
by  having  in  cnn-  midst  such  men  as   I^gb.Tt  Ter<  Kyck,  after- 
wards first  judge  of  the  court,   who  was  then  a  youiig  lawver, 
and  married    liere,   to   one  of  our   beautiful    maidens;  Olney 
Pearce  and  wife,  Uubbel  and    wife,   .ludge  Moss  Kent,  l)roth.'r 
of  the  late  chancellor,  Ih.nry    U.  Slorrs,    who  opene<l  an  office 
here,  and  afterwards   became   ..ne   of  \\w    most  distinguished 
lawyers  of  the  state.      Dr.  liaudry,  a   Frenchman,  Dr.s.  Durkee 
and  I'^irley,  and  many   otluMs,   too   numerous   to   mention,  as 
well  as  many  ladies  of  gra(-e   and    beauty,    whom  it  wouhi  be 
nividiousnow   to   particularize.      ('omm..n    schools    were  soon 
established.      Religious    iii<.,. tings    \ynv   \u-U\   <.n  the  Sabbath, 
after  old  Deacon  Carter  came  into  the  town.  an<l  in  a  very  few 
years,  !  think    as  early    as    ISO.",,    the    Rev.  Nathaniel  Dutton 
came,      lie  was  sent    out   by   some   missi.)nary   societv  at  the 
ca.st,  to  form  churches  in    ibis    western    world,'  and  canin-  to 
tins  place,  was  invited  to  remain,  which  h.>  .lid.  ,,nd  continued 


here  until  the  elo.se  of  1 


lis  valuable  life,  in  Sept.   iS.ri,  and  for 


uu 


A    1'IONKKU'S    ll.Mn>Sllll'S. 


tlu-umitrr  part  of  that  time  was  th.  pastor  of  the  Congreg.lj 
ti,„;,i  ,luuTh,  which  Houvishra  un.hM-  his  ministrations,  and 
cMijoyed  many  powerful  revivals  of  rohgion. 


mmi 


mumm 


Folk -Stories. 

The  following'  sturies,  some  of  tliciii  worn  tlircailhaiv  inn 
past  j>cmTati()ii  wiil  conic  Inick  (o  older  readers  like  the  sweet 
voiee  of  a  bird  in  the  desert.  What  iiieiiiories  (he  alniost-for- 
pttten  anecdote  revives!  (ioldcn  vision  of  days  when  the 
heart  was  younu'.  and  sympathy,  jinre,  ilee]»  and  tearful  ruled 
the  soul.  A  .><yniiiatliy  that  wept  with  the  new  homesick 
puppy  ;  released  (he  imprisoned  mother  hen  fussinjr  in  her 
coop,  or  removed  the  pehhle  from  a  .strui-nlinii'  .shoot.  The 
simple,  un.sellish  mind  of  a  child  that  makes  a  conli(h'nt  of 
tile  domestic  animals,  and  jiives  the  creeping-  vine  a  helping 
hand  to  a  new  or  lirmer  hold.  A  symp;ithy  alas!  all  too  .soon 
hurdened  hy  t'xperienct'  and  self  interests. 

Hvery  per.<on  had,  as  a  child,  his  or  her  favorite  storv 
told  over  and  a^ain,  and  at  each  repetition  a  new  scene  was 
mirrored  upon  the  curtain  of  childish  imagination.  The  good 
old  .s^tory  of  how  a  chief  tested  the  confidence  of  a  leading  col- 
onist has  gotten  into  [>rint  and  is  thus  delightfully  related  in 
Pansy,  though  dilfering  slightlv  in  detail. 


n.\N"    VKHKY. 


Old  Ifan  Verry,  was  an  Indian  chief  of  the  Oneida  tribe, 
wlio  lived  in  the  northern  part  of  New  York   .State  a  hundred 


166 


I'dl.K-STOIMKS. 


years  ii<i().  He  luid  tbu^lit  with  tlu'  king's  piirty  against  the 
colonisls  ;  l)ut,  after  tlie  war,  when  Judge  White  eanie  to  found 
the  town  of  NN'hiti'shorougii,  he  sought  to  make  friends  with 
them.  The  judge  was  the  first  white  man  to  forni  a  settU'- 
inont  there.  He  was  surintunded  Ijy  Indians,  but  was  kind 
and  go(jd.  and  soon  won  tiicir  love.  He  livi'd  in  a  small  log 
hou.se,  with  his  married  daughter  and  a  little  grandchild,  who 
was  about  two  or  three  yvnvs  old. 

One  day,  old  llau  Verry,  with  his  s(iuaw  and  a  mulatto 
servant,  came  from  Oriskany,  thri'e  miles  away,  to  pay  the 
judge  a  visit  and  i-enew  theii'  friendship.  IVforo  going,  the 
chief  said  : 

"  I  like  you  and  have  confidence  in  you.  Do  you  like 
me  and  have  you  confidence  in  me?"  To  which  the  judge 
rej)lied  warmly  that  he  liked  him  and  had  confidence  in  him. 

"Then  prove  it  to  me,  "  .said  the  old  chief,  "  My  sijuaw 
loves  your  pai)oose.  Let  us  take  her  back  to  remain  all  night. 
I  will  return  with  her  in  the  morning.  " 

The  ba])y's  poor  mother  sat  speechless  with  terror  at  the 
thougiit  of  trusting  her  dai-ling  to  tiiese  .savages,  and,  as  she 
saw  signs  of  yielding  in  her  father's  face,  threw  herself  dis- 
tractedly at  his  feet.  Without  looking  at  her  di.stre.ss,  he  gen- 
tly took  the  child  from  lu'i'  close  endjrace,  and  told  her  .she 
had  nothing  to  fear  from  their  good  friends,  who  would  surely 
bring  her  ]»a<'k  sately  and  well.  'IMieii,  placing  the  child  in 
the  .><(|uaw's  arms,  he  said:  "  I  trust  lo  niy  friends  ail  tiiat  1 
hold  most  dear. "' 

Though  he  looked  calm  and  smiling,  lie  det'ply  felt  the 
sacrifice  he  was  called  upon  to  make  in  order  to  save  the  col- 
onists, wiio  would  have  perisheil  had  tlu'  re([uest  been  re- 
fu.sed. 

All  night  they  ke])t  vigil,  and   in   the  first  gray  light  of 


I'ni.K-STniMKS. 


IC.T 


(lawn  strained  their  eyes  up  the  mad  Inr  si<iii  of  any  human 
hein<;-;  l)nt  tliere  was  nf)ne.  '\l\v  iinurs  came  and  went — mmn, 
afternoftn.  Still  no  ,  inn.  in  silence  and  prayer,  with  dark 
foreljodinj'-,  they  kept  watch.  Sunietimes  the  podf  ne.thei', 
Ihi'outih  jii'iel'  and  tear,  would  try  to  rush  up  the  road  in 
seai'ch  of  her  dai'linji',  hut  was  restrained  l)y  her  father,  who 
knew  that  such  a  hreacdi  of  conlidence  would  cause  its  death 
and  that  of  the  defenseless  s<'ttlers,  while  reliance  on  their 
woi'd  would  increa.se  friendliness.  So,  hand  in  hand,  thcv 
waite(l. 

At  last,  as  the  sun  said<  heliind  the  hills,  someli^ures  ap- 
peared in  the  distance.  .\lmost  hreathlessly  they  ohsei'ved 
them  approach.  As  they  ilrew  nearer,  with  a  cry  of  delight. 
the  keen  vyvs  of  the  mother  saw  lUossom  pei'ched  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  old  chief,  dressed  out  in  all  the  liiirticousness 
of  an  Indian  princess,  instead  of  her  own  little  clothes,  smiling- 
and  happy,  as  if  she  had  had  the  hest  of  times,  as  indeed  was 
the  case  ;  for  the  Indians  had  \)vr\\  very  kind  and  tender  in 
their  etl'oi'ts  to  anuise  the  little  "  i'ale  Mower.  '" 

Judji'e  White  was  wise  to  show  the  Indians  this  yi'eat 
trust,  for  tiny  never  forgot  it.  I'"i'om  that  lime  they  did  all 
they  could  to  aid  the  white  settlers  at  Sedatilnpiate.  afterwai'd 
called  W'hiteshortaiuh.  and  to  show  their  love  aiul  respect  foi- 
them. 


\    CorUT    OK    liKCOhM). 


An  act  was  pas.^ed,  A|)ril,  ISOi;,  dii-ectiny  throe  terms  of 
the  court  of  common  pleas  to  he  held  in  .leU'ei'son  and  Ia'wIs 
counties.     Tradition  says,  that,  after  formal  adjourmcnt,  the 


108 


1  OI.K-STOKIKS. 


first  court,  wliicli  Wiis  held  in  tlic  scIkkiI  liuusc.  on  the  }ir<iinnl 
now  coxcrcd  l»y  tiif  I'nivcrsalist  ('liiir<'li.  hcciinic  ii  scene  oi' 
tun  iind  frolic,  wliicii  lins  since  heen  seldom  eqnilled.  'I'lie 
^rciiler  piii't  ol"  tile  settlers  Were  yonn^  or  middle  iij^cd  men, 
some  induljiccl  in  iiiil)its  uf  intcm|>eriince  ;  the  custom  ni'  the 
diiy  did  not  (liscountennnce  |iriiclicid  Joking',  and  iitlilelic 
punes  w'.ic  inviirialdy  the  iiccom|iiiiiimcnt  of  (ill  jiiillierin^'s. 
jMci'cnver  tliey  liad  lieeii  just  or^ani/e(l,  and  must  liavo 
l>usincss  i'()\-  (heir  courts,  else  what  the  need  of  luiviuji  coUl'ts? 

iination  to  join    in   tlu'se   pro- 


anv  one  evince  a  disnu 


J^liould 

(•(•(■(lin^s,  they  were  accused  of  "  sneakism.  "  and  arraigned  he- 
fore  a  mock  (ri])unal,  where,  •■■uiity  or  not  guilty,  the  penalty 
of  a  "(|uartoi',  "  was  sure  to  he  imposi'd  foi'  the  henclit  of  the 
crowd.  Auion^  other  chai'^'cs  was  one  aj;ainst  l''s(|.  11.,  of 
K*utland,  a  man  of  very  soher  and  candid  character,  who  was 
char^e<l  with  stealinji'.  ('(tuscious  of  iiuiocence,  hv  ollered  to 
he  .searclied,  wlien  a  i|uautity  of  <lou.yh  was  found  in  holh 
pockets  of  his  coat.  Thus  implicated  liy  circumstances  which 
ho  could  not  e.\|ilain,  ln'  was  liiu'd.  Another  was  accu.sed  of 
falliu*''  asleep,  and  fined  a  shillinti',  and  another  was  lined  a 
likt'  sum  foi'  sinokin<>'  in  the  court  I'ooin.  After  payinj;'  the 
penalty,  lu.  rcsume<l  his  |>ipe,  and  was  ajiain  arraiji'ued,  when 
he  ontei'cd  his  plea  that  (he  line  was  for  a  pipe  full,  which  ho 
had  not  finished,  and  this  all'oi'ded  a  suhiect  of  leual  aruunuMit 


for 


discussion 


that 


elicited    (he    research    ami    a 


il)ili(v 


th 


iwvers  nreseiit. 


As  tl 


le  avoweil    inteiitiiiii  was  to  make  iaisi- 


ncss  foi'  all   the  new  ollicers.  on 


e  wa.- 


<tril 


IIK 


laid 


out   nil 


a  hoard,  loosely  covere(|  with  a  cloth,  and  a  coroner  .sen(  for. 
who  comnience(|  a  hona  fide  examination,  that  was  interi'upted 
by  some  one  tip|)iiiji-  over  the  hoard,  when  the  "  suhject  "  of 
tlio  hoax  juin])ed  up  and  fled.  There  had  not  (lius  far  heen 
any  hu.sinoss  for  tlio  shoriff,  but  this   was  at  length   inado,  hy 


FOLK-STOKIKS. 


Ifif) 


their  fiiulinjr  one  wlif.  hiir]  crept  into  tlic  ^nrict  fur  ('(miccmI- 
inciit.  He  WHS  (Inijrjr,,,!  lifforc  tlicir  tril.uiuil.  wlicic  it  wjis 
derided  tlmt  iiis  t'iiiliiij--  was  a  «li,se!i,se.  ratlier  tiiaii  a  criiiM",  and 
iV(|uii'od  a  specide.  This  carnival  was  c(.ntinu(d  Ihc  second 
day,  and  althoiij^di  the  (.fliceis  of  tlie  court  alU'cted  to  ai.stain 
from  these  frolics,  yv{  jn«licial  divinity  oflered  no  exemption 
from  them,  and  all  parties,  whether  willing- or  nnwiilin^-,  were 
(xanpelled  U.join.  ('omi)anies,  distinj-nished  hy  personal  pe- 
culiarities, were  paraded  under  officers  selected  for  the  pronn- 
nence  of  these  traits,  as  "  lon^r  noses,  "  etc.,  while  tiie  little 
short  men  were  organized  into  a  party  and  cliar^r,.,!  with  the 
duty  of  "  keepinjr  the  cats  off.  "  These  follies  may  he  con- 
sidered puerile,  hut  not  more  so  than  the  animal  carnival  in 
some  European  countries,  and  their  record  is  interesting  from 
illustratinfr  tho  custom  of  the  times,  when  athletic  games  were 
fashional)le,  and  men  seldom  met  in  nund)ers  without  having 
"a  regular  train.  " 


A     .MKIUTV    NIMKOI). 

The  following  encounter  with  a  panther,  in  1S1!».  was 
rehited  hy  Jairus  Rich,  the  hunter:  It  occurred  near  Hyde 
i.ake,  ahout  three  nnlos  from  th(>  village  of  IMcssis.  He  Imd 
Sethis  traps  for  wolves,  and  ha«l  arrived  within  a  fvw  rods  of 
one  of  them,  when  he  oh.served  a  panther  spring  up  and  run 
with  a  trap  to  one  of  his  hind  legs.  He  fired,  hut  mis.^ed  tlie 
mark,  and  his  game  made  off  into  the  thicket,  when  he 
returned  to  a  house  nearly  a  mile  distant,  procured  a  small 
<log,  an<l   having  again   repaired   to  the  place,  and  stationed 


I'dl.K-sToiMKS. 


Iiiiiisclf  \vlici-<'  lie  could  stiii't  llic  cutriipiicd  aniiiiiil.  lie  ob- 
served tin-  liciid  of  a  paiitlier  eineru'e  iVolil  tlic  ii'islies  al)()Ut 
five  rods  distiiiil.  upon  wliicli  lie  lired  and  killed  liini  instantly. 
He  sffon  found  thai  this  was  not  llii'  one  in  the  trap,  and  ;i 
Ilea  vv  sliouer  oj' rain  eoiiiinii,  on.  lie  lound  it  diflieuU  to  load 
his  riiie  aLiain.  wiiieh  lie  at  lenutli  did.  The  doy-,  ineanwhile, 
ha<l  eii^a^ied  the  othei'  paiithei'.  Upon  which  he  fired  and 
wouiahd  liini.  and  lindiiiLihe  could  not  reloatl,  on  account  of 
the  r.aiii.  iie  thiew  d  wn  Ids  niece,  ami  seizin<i"  his  hatcliet, 
sjirunj:  upon  him,  when  there  ensued  a  i'eart'ul  sti 'luiile.  in 
wlii(di.  linally,  llie  he:ist  iiot  under,  with  one  of  the  man's 
liand-  ill  hi-  iiioiitli  :  the  hatchet  was  lost,  Imt  with  the  otlu'r 
hum  ids  jpocket  a  knife.  o|>ciu'<l  it  with  his 
teeth,  and  hnallv  su( 
ferocioii-   animal. 


lialHl    lie    (ll'ew 


lied  in  cutting-  the  throat  of  tiio 
The  liuntei  was  hadly  torn,  l)ut  made 
out  to  crawl  (o  the  neare-i  house,  where,  after  many  weeks,  lio 
recovei'cil.  iiiit  caiiied  tlie  M-ars  of  the  conllict  witli  him  to  the 
jij-ave.  The  Itoimties  for  the  destruction  of  wild  animals  were 
then  so  or<'at.  that  the  imluceinents  for  ^ain  led  to  in^ciuous 
measures  for  securiuii'  the  i'ewar<ls,  and  it  is  relate(l  of  the  same 
person,  that  iiavinu'  traileil  a  she  wolf  to  her  den,  and  kille<I 
her.  he  found  in  the  i-ive  ten  yoiui^'  whelps,  hut  too  small  to 
he  entitled  to  the  houiily.  lie  accordingly  huilt  a  |)en  in  the 
forest,  and  i'vd  them  daily  upon  wild  meats  which  he  ohtained 
in  iiuiitin^^.  until  tiny  weic  <j,iown.  lie  hecame  strongly  at- 
faelied  to  one  of  iheiii.  who  would  follow  him  like  a  dog',  hut 
the  niiiptatioii  of  ii^.m  was  too  strong  to  resist,  and  he  sh 
fa'.'orile  p.-t  to  gain    the   | 


w  I  us 


ireiiiiuiii.      This  hrecding  wolves  for 


the  market. had  its  iiarallel  in  an  instaiic"  in  tliis  town,  in  which 


a  hunter,    to   gain    the   rewa 


I'd    that    miiilit   he  oil'ei'cd  for  the 


secret,  profe.^sed  to  know  of  a  salt  spriitg,  to  which  he  was  in- 
duced t«»  conduct  a  cei  tain  pei'.son,  and  in  which  ho  liad  a  little 


FOLK-STORIES. 


171 


previous  l)urie(l  a  bjig  of  .salt.  The  water  being  duly 
"  analyzed,"  by  measuring,  evaporating,  and  weighing,  a 
purehase  of  nearly  HOO  acres  was  made,  without  a  knowledge 
of  the  spring  by  the  landiiolder,  nor  was  tiie  trick  discovered 
l^efore  the  bargain  had  been  sealed  and  the  sale  perfected. 


A    «rRVKYING     INCIDENT. 

Charles  ('.  Rrodhead,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  had  held 
the  rank  of  captain  in  the  Revolution,  and  while  performing 
a  survey,  encountered  many  hardships.  An  obituary  notice 
publislied  soon  after  his  death,  vvhich  occurred  in  1853,  at 
Ltica,  contained  the  following  : 

"  In  running  the  great  lines  of  division  his  party  had 
crossed  the  Black  River  sevei'al  tinu's,  the  men  and  instru- 
ments being  ferried  across.  On  one  occasion  when  they  had 
approached  tiie  river,  having  journeyed  through  the  woods 
without  noting  their  route  Ity  the  compass,  they  arrived  at  a 
|)art  of  the  bank  which  they  recognized,  and  knew  to  l)e  a  safe 
place  of  passing,  Making  a  raft  of  logs,  they  started  IVom  the 
bank,  and  began  to  ])ole  aei'oss.  Wlien  in  the  midst  of  the 
current  their  poles  failed  to  reach  the  bottom,  and  simultaneous 
with  this  discovery,  tlie  noise  of  the  watt'rs  below  them  revealed 
tiie  boi-rid  fact  that  they  had  mistaken  their  fei'rying  place, 
and  wei'e  at  the  liead  and  I'apidiy  ap[)i'oachiiig  {\\c  (Ji'eat  K.ills 
of  the  river,  tiie  pnssag(>  of  whicli  threatcMied  all  l)iit  certain 
death.  Instantly  Mi'.  !>.  ordered  every  man  wjio  could  swim 
to  make  for  tlie  sliore,  and  lie  prepared  to  swim  for  his  own 
jifp.    But  the  pireous  appeals  i^i'  Mr.  Pharoux,  aytanig  French- 


172 


FOLK-8TORIKS. 


man  of  tlio  party,  who  could  not  swim,  arrested  him,  and  he 
determined  to  remain  with  him  to  assist  him,  if  possible,  in 
the  awful  passage  of  the  falls.  Hastily  directing  his  men  to 
grasp  firmly  to  the  logs  of  the  raft,  giving  similar  directions 
to  Mr.  Pharoux,  he  then  laid  himself  down  by  the  side  of  his 
friend.  The  raft  pas.sed  the  dreadful  falls  and  was  dashed  to 
pieces.  Mr.  Pharoux  with  several  of  the  whites  and  Indians 
was  drowned,  and  Mr.  Brodhead  him.self  thrown  into  an  eddy 
near  the  shore,  whence  he  was  drawn  almost  senseless  by  an 
Indian  of  the  party."  The  body  of  Pharoux  afterwards  was 
found  on  a  small  island  at  tiie  mouth  of  the  rive/  to  which  his 
name  was  given.  Mr.  Lellay  caused  to  b-  prepared  a  marble 
tablet  to  be  inserted  in  the  rocks  here,  with  the  following 
inscription  : 

"  To  the  memory  of  Peter  Pharoux,  this  Island  is  con- 
secrated." 


.\    MA.N-THAl' 


-sMr(i(ij,iN(;. 


In  ISOH,  a  party  of  miHtia.  under  (-aptain  Timothy 
Tamblin,  was  stationed  near  the  intersection  of  the  two  great 
roads  leading  into  St.  Lawrence  County,  a  mile  north  of  the 
village  of  Antwerp,  to  prevent  smuggling  und(>r  the  embargo 
law.  There  was  much  op[»osition  both  in  theory  and  practice 
to  this  law.  An  instance  is  related  in  which  a  practical  joke 
of  a  somewhat  serious  nature,  was  i)laye<l  off  upon  one  of  these 
guardians  of  the  national  wellfaro.  A  per.son  to  whom  the  law 
was  odious,  having  set  a  trap  in  his  sleigh,  and  placed  around 
it    a    Idiiding   calculated    to   convey    (be   impiessioii    that  they 


FOLK-STORIKS. 


173 


were  sinu^frled  goods  ai)i)roache(l  the  guard,  but  warned  those 
on  duty  to  keep  away  from  his  load,  or  they  would  get  into 
trouble.  Not  deterred  by  this  threat,  one  of  the  guard  pro- 
ceeded rudely  to  overhaul  the  sleigh,  to  ascertain  its  contents, 
and  was  soon  convinced  that  it  at  least  concealeil  a  tra{),  for  it 
sprung  upon  his  hand,  at  which  the  driver  gave  reins  to  his 
team  an<l  drove  off  exclaiming: 


I  " 


"  I've  caught  a  Democrat  I 

During  the  war,  a  company  of  regular  troops  w<is  stationed 
a  little  north  of  Antwerp)  village,  to  prevent  smuggling  into 
the  country  from  Canada.  The  inducements  which  led  to  this 
were  so  strong,  that  much  ingenuity  was  exercised  in  evading 
the  vigilance  of  sentinels,  and  sometimes  with  great  succes.s. 
Five  or  .six  sleigh  loads  of  tea  had  on  a  certain  occasion  been 
got  to  within  three  or  four  miles  of  Antwerp,  having  passed 
thus  far  without  suspicion  as  the  tea  was  packed  in  bags, 
like  grain  on  its  way  to  market.  To  evade  the  military  guard 
that  obstructed  the  road,  the  following  stratagem  was  adopted: 
Captain  B.  who  had  charge  of  the  company,  was  ii^vited  to  a 
whist  party  at  Cook's  tavern,  three  miles  norlli  of  Antwerp, 
at  which  place,  during  the  evening,  a  large  party  of  boys  and 
young  men  assembled,  with  no  ap[)arent  object  but  to  spend 
the  evening  in  carousing,  drinking  and  card  playing.  Brandy 
circulated  freely,  and  the  revels  continued  till  a  late  hour  in 
the  night,  when  the  captain  and  his  i)arty  set  out  to  return  in 
a  sleigh  closely  followed  by  the  loads  of  tea,  thickly  covered 
by  a  disordei'ly  crowd,  who  by  singing,  shouting  t|Uarr('ling, 
and  fighting,  made  the  night  hideous  with  unearthly  discords, 
and  would  readily  pa.ss  as  a  half  drunken  rabble  returning 
from  a  midnight  revel.  The  captain,  who  was  liimsdl"  rather 
nior.  than  half  mto.xicatcd,  eiitei'e(l  with  spirit  into  the  merri- 


174 


I'or.K-STORIKS. 


mcnt  of  the  otlu-rs,  and  as  the  train  approached  tlie  sentinels, 
he  shouted  : 

"It's  Captain  B.,  let  my  company  pass." 

The  order  was  obeyed,  and  the  disorderly  mob  passed  on. 
and  having  ^ot  beyond  reach  of  danger,  they  left  the  teams  to 
pursue  their  course  in  quiet,  and  in  due  time  boasted  of  the 
success  of  their  stratagem. 


COHHIPT    POI.ITICI.VNS. 


At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1.S20,  which  was  held  at 
Perch  River,  aftci  electing  a  |)ortion  of  the  f-fficers,  the  meeting 
adjourned  to  the  house  of  I^dward  Arnold,  on  Penet  S()uare, 
until  the  next  day.  This  measure  created  Jnuch  excitei  ent, 
and  those  living  in  the  .south(>rn  and  eastern  portions  ot  the 
town,  rallied  with  all  their  forces,  attended  promptly  at  the 
earliest  moment  of  the  adjourned  meeting,  organized,  and  im- 
mediately voted  anoth  M-  adjournment  to  the  house  of  Klias 
BcMuiet  at  Brownvilb.  village,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  where  the  vote  for  town  clerk  was  reconsidered,  and  the 
remaining  ofiifi-rs  ehvti'd,  Being  thus  robbed  of  their  town 
meeting,  the  settlei'>  >>ii  Penet"-^  .S(|U;ii'c   a 


iiid    in   distant  locali- 


tie! 


lenianded   a    seitiinite   oriianizatKjn.    wnieli    was    i-eadilv 


consented  to,  an<l  all  pui'ties  having  met  at  an  informal  meet- 
ing, or  convcMition.  at  the  village,  agreed  upon  a  petition  to 
the  legislature,  which  was  acted  upon,  before  another  town 
meeting.  The  foregoing  is  a  concise  statement  of  the  act  of 
"  stealing  a  town  meeting,"  wbicli   gave   ii-<e   to  much  talk  at 


the  tiMie 


am 


I    aliout    wbicli    iiianv    Caliulons  stoi'ies  have  been 


FOLK-STOHIKS. 


17; 


reliitcd.  It  is  said  tlint  this  licinnus  crime  of  rol)li{'ry  was 
iiuidc  the  .svil)ji'('t  (if  a  painting',  that  foniuMl  a  pai't  of  a  travel- 
ing i'xlul)ition. 


(1  i:\KH  A  I,    ,IA('(tI!     MROWN. 


iJrowiiviilc  was  first  ('.\|)h)red,  with  a  view  of  scttU'inont, 
l)y  (Jeiicral  .lacoh  l>rown.  who  wiiile  teaching  school  in  New 
York,  had  met  with  Kodolph  Tillier,  the  geiiei'al  agent  for  the 
Chassiuis  hinds,  ami  was  in(hiccd  to  purchase  a  large  tract, 
and  hecome  the  ag'Mit  for  conuiuMicing  a  si-ttlenient,  at  a  time 
when  the  ditHculties  attemling  such  an  enterprise  were  very 
great.  Having  engaged  in  this  husiness,  he  repaired  in  Feb- 
ruary, 17!*!t,  to  the  location  of  the  French  com])any,  at  the 
High  i^ills,  and  made  sevi'ral  journi-ys  to  I'tica,  when,  hiiving 
completed  his  arrangements,  and  collected  pi'ovisions  at  the 
Long  Falls,  he  in  March,  17!l!l.  passed  down  the  old  French 
road,  in  coini)any  with  three  or  four  hired  men,  <ind  happening 
to  reach  the  river  at  the  mouth  of  I'hilomel  Creek,  he  was 
charmed  with  the  pi'ospect  of  a  water  power,  apparently 
pei'cnnial.  ;ind  at  once  decided  upon  stopping  here.  He  com- 
menced clearing  land,  having  .><ent  for  his  father's  family,  who 
started  on  the  2'Jd  of  April,  frou)  Bucks  County.  I'a..  and  after 


stop|)ing  a  few  days  al  New  Yoi'k  ami  Sclieiie* 

.•It  r 

17th 


•tndv, 


and  luring 


Ilea  an  c.xti'a  hoat.  at  leu; 


rth 


uiM'ived  at  the  location  i 


<n  th 


Miv,    17'.MI.    haviuii'   hcen    nearly    three  weeks  on  the 


roail 


icorge  l^rowii,  a    n 


lativ( 


th 


came  on    in  tlie  same  com- 


mv,  with  a  part  of  his  familv,  making,  with  the  boatman. 


partv  of  litarlv  tweiitv 


The  boalmaii  suou  returned,  leuvi 


I* 


176 


I'or.K-STOHlKS. 


one  boat  tlmt  servod  tlio  iiicans  for  ('(tmnuniii'iitioii  with  l\iiif>s- 
ton,  from  wli"iict'  they  dorivi'd  most  of  their  provisions,  the 
stock  left  at  the  Long  Falls  havinff  been  sold.  When  this 
company  had  arrived,  the  first  had  cleared  a  small  piece,  and 
got  up  the  body  of  a  log  house,  twenty  feet  s(|uare,  which 
occupied  the  site  of  the  hay  scales  on  tiie  edge  of  the  l)ank,  in 
the  village,  and  the  same  season  they  put  up  the  bo.lyofa 
two-story  log  house,  2")  by  30,  on  the  ground  covered  hy 
the  store  of  Wm.  Lord.  This  was  not,  however,  coinpleted  foi- 
occupation  till  the  spring  of  LSOL  In  the  fall  of  1S(»()  a  saw 
mill  was  built  at  the  mouth  ot  Philomel  Creek,  the  mi'lwrights 
being  Noah  Durrin  and  Ebenezer  Hills,  and  late  in  the  fall  of 
1801  a  grist  mill  was  built  for  Mr.  Brown,  by  Hthni  Kvans, 
afterwards  the  pioneer  of  Evans  Mills.  A  few  goods  were 
brought  on  with  the  hrst  family,  but  in  the  fall  of  the  .same 
year,  Jacob  Brown  went  to  N<'W  Yoi'k,  on  other  business,  and 
selected  a  snudl  stock  better  adapted  to  the  market.  In  ITUil, 
a  great  number  came  in  to  look  for  lands,  many  of  whom 
selected  farms  on  Perch  river,  and  between  that  place  and 
Brownville,  where  they  commenced  small  clearings,  and  loade 
arrangements  for  removal  with  their  families  in  the  spring. 

In  1804,  the  question  of  forming  one  or  more  new  coun- 
ties from  Oneida,  became  the  absorbing  theme, and  a  convention 
was  held  at  Denmark,  Nov.  20,  bSdl,  td  drcide  upon  the 
application,  at  which  most  of  the  delegates  are  said  to  have 
gone  prepared  to  vote  for  one  county,  hut  from  the  inliuence 
of  Mr.  Br.'wn,  and  Gen.  Martin,  of  .Martinsliurg.  wvw  induced 
t*"  apply  for  the  erection  of  1wo  new  counties.  In  locatiugthe 
county  seat,  the  most  active  eii'orts  were  made  in  each  counlN', 
Martinstijrgh  and  Tiowville  being  the  rivals  in  Lewis,  and 
Wntertowu  and  Brownville  in  Jefierson.  Mr.  Brown  was  the 
principal  advocat<'  of  the  latter,  but  the  mass  of  .si'ttlement  was 


rol.K-STOUIKS. 


177 


then  ill  the  sfiutlicni  towns,  and  the  j)ortion  iiortli  (»f  lilack 
River  Wiis  known  to  he  low,  icvf^l,  iiiid  (in  a  state  of  nature) 
nnicli  'of  it  swampy.  The  settlements  that  had  l)een  bej^jun  at 
that  early  day,  at  Terch  River,  Cliaiiniont,  and  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  were  visited  hy  severe  sickness,  and  the  idea  was 
entertained,  or  at  least  lield  forth  to  the  eoniniissioners  who 
located  tlu'  site,  that  it  could  never  l)e  inhabited.  Mr.  Brown 
next  endeavored  to  jtrocure  the  location  on  the  north  hank  of 
the  river,  near  Watertown,  and  made  liberal  offers  of  land, 
for  the  pultlic  use,  but  the  perseverance  and  intriffues  of  Mr. 
('offeeii  and  others,  succeeded  in  ti.xing  the  site  at  its  present 
location. 

After  the  opening  of  the  land  oHice  at  Le  ^{aysville,  AFr. 
Brown  continued  for  two  or  three  yi-ars  d(>v()te(i  to  his  private 
atfairs,  and  meanwhile  received  unsolicited,  commissions  of 
captain,  and  of  colonel  of  the  lOSth  regiment  of  militia.  His 
promotion  in  the  line  of  military  Ufe,  is  said  to  have  arisen 
from  his  avowed  aversion  to  frecjuent  ami  expensive  military 
parades  in  time  of  peace,  calling  off  the  inhabitants  from  their 
labors  in  the  lields,  and  I'ticouraging  habits  of  intemperance 
which  in  those  (lays  wen-  too  fre(|uently  the  accompaniment  of 
such  gatherings.  His  views  of  the  subject  of  militia  organiza- 
tions, approached  more  nearly  tt)  our  present  .system  ;  and  in 
selecting  him  for  office,  the  people  were  convinced,  that  while 
he  oinitti'd  nothing  conducive  to  the  public  safety,  he  would 
cause  tlitMu  no  needless  expense  of  time  and  money  for  parades. 
In  his  puldic  and  private  conduct,  and  daily  life,  they  saw  him 
in  [)()sse,ssion  of  sagacity  and  intelligence,  that  led  them  to 
place  conlidence  in  his  resources,  sliould  emergencies  call  for 
thi'ir  exercise,  and  the  integrity  of  his  private  life  convinced 
tliem  that  the  public  trusts  witli  which  he  might  be  honored, 
would  be  faithfully  preserved. 


178 


FOLK-STOHIKS. 


Ill  tlic  (liscliiir^^o  of  his  official  duties,  (iciicnil  Hrowii  vo- 
movcd  to  Wiisliiii^tou  in  lcS2l,  wlicrc  lie  (•ontiiiucd  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Fehniary  24,  1S2.S.  from  the 
effect  of  a  disease  contracted  at  Fort  Krie.  I'\)r  some  tinio 
previous,  ills  ]>hysical  powers  had  lieen  impairetl  hy  a  [taralytic 
stroke.  His  death  was  announce<l  to  the  army  hy  an  order  of 
the  secretary  of  war;  and  the  funeral  ceremonies  were  jier- 
formed  with  all  tlie  formality  and  dignity  that  his  exalte(l 
rank  refiuired. 


A    ULOCKHOrSK    (iHANAHY. 


Tlie  inhabitams  living  on  Perch  Kiv<'r,  on  receivinj>'  the 
news  of  the  war,  were  greatly  alarmed  from  their  supposed  ex- 
])08ure  on  the  frontier,  and  some  of  the  timid  ones  resolved  to 
leave  the  country.  To  dissuadu  them  from  this,  it  was  pro- 
po.sed  to  build  a  blockhouse,  which  was  forthwith  done  hy 
voluntary  labor,  but  when  c(mipleted,  only  served  as  a  store- 
house for  the  wheat  of  a  neighbor.  Some,  ridiculing  the  idea 
of  danger,  humorou.sly  pro{)ose<l  to  jiost  themselves  on  the 
brow  of  some  of  the  limestone  ledges  towards  Catfish  ('ri'<'k,  in 
the  direction  of  Canada,  which  would  give  tlu-ni  the  double 
advantages  of  a  commanding  position,  and  ;>n  abundance  of 
material  for  missiles,  in  case  of  attack.  This  had  itseil'cct,  and 
after  a  few  weeks'  reflection  the  idea  of  Indian  massacre  was 
forgotten.  It  will  ]>e  remembered  that  many  of  the  older  in- 
habitants had  realized  in  tlu'ir  youth  the  horrors  of  Indian 
warfare  and  tin.  tales  of  midnight  massacre  which  they  re- 
lated as  they  assembled   ou   evenings   for   mutual  .safety,  en- 


l'(»I,K-STf»WI  KS. 


170 


hmifcd.  in  IK.  small   .Ichivc,  this  tinii.litv.      Still    the  nianns 
winch  luvvailcjin  this, ■„uiity  UTiv    Car   less    than    th..s<.  that 
si.iva.l    thrcuo-h    the   St.    I.awivim.   sctll, .,,„., its.   and   as   al'tcr- 
"•..nls.Mi.|.,.M.v.l  in   Canada    itself,  uhnv   nrarlv   owrv   fa.nilv 
i'lniiK  the  river  ha.l    hern  luoitivcs    from    the  des, lathi-  hand 
of  war,  from  their  adheivn.-..  t..  the  n.val  e  iiHe  in  the  rev.ln- 
<">"•     The  apprehensions  ..r  hotli  parties   snon    sulfide  I.  and 
men   resumed    their   eustnmiry    pursuit^,    ex<-:.pt    when    ..eca- 
H.,na].lraffs.,rj.-eneral   alarms,  ealled   mit    the   militia.  ..r  the 
('nH-r-eneiesofth,.  servic..  re.p.ired    the   asseiiiMino.   „f   teams 
for  the  tmn.sportation  ..f  munitiuns  ,,f  war.      {'rices  ,,f  pr..diiee 
were,  (.fenurse.  e.xtremelyhi^h.  and    IVuin    the    larye    amount 
of  govennnent  money  e.Kpended   here,  th.'   I.asis  ..f  n, my  for- 
tunes in  the  county  were  laid  at  that  period. 


lii  h'iKii  •||{K.\sri;i:. 

The  uhorio-inal    remains  of   Kllisl.uruh.  have   uiven  occa- 
sion for  tlH'  weak  minded  to  i,elieve   that    thev  were    in    some 
way  concerned  with  l.iiried  treasures,  and  this  heinu- eonlirnied 
hy  the  supposed  indieations  of  the  divinin.u-    n.d.  h.,|    in  early 
times  to  explorations  for  them,  de.spite  of  the  f-uanlianship  of 
tlH' spirits   of  the    murdered,  who  according  to   the   mo.st  ap- 
pn.ve.l  demonoloo-ists  of  these  spe,-ulati..ns   were  in    some  in- 
stances charti-ed    with    niakin-   n,on,.y  nut    of   the    civdulous 
victims  of  superstition,  l.y  s(dlino-  ].rovisi,ms,  and    in    several 
nistances.   the  diuo-,.,.,.   ^ere    almost    frijihtened   out   of   their 
senses  l.y  .yhosts  aii.l  deim.ns  ;  s..me  uot    fleeced  of  suh,.tantial 
property  in  pur.suit  (.f  imaginary   wealth,  and   others  lost  the 


ISO 


KOLK-STUKIKS. 


rt'.s|KH"t  (»f  sciisililc  iiicii  hy  the  favor  with  wliich  they  rojiiirdod 
tliusc  follies.  Oil  ii  certain  occasion  in  |tr(|iarinj^  tlie  enchanted 
circle  for  (li^'j;in<!;,  a  hmib  was  sacrilicotl  to  appeaso  the  guar- 
dian (h'nions  of  the  SMj)|iosed  treasure,  hut  this  act  was  f^c'iier- 
ally  r 'yarded  as  a  sacrilege  and  did  much  towards  bringinjf 
disert'(ht  upon  these  lieathenisli  orfj^ics. 


crsToMS     Tlioll'.I.KS. 

Tn  Se|»teniher.  ISOS,  an  event  occurred  in  Kllishurjj;h 
tliat  created  ji'i'eat  excitement  at  the  time.  A  party  from  i)s- 
wcffo,  under  Lieut.  Asa  Wells,  entered  Sandy  ("reek,  and  after 
seizinji'  a  (piantity  of  potash  under  the  embargo  laws,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  house  of  ('a|it.  Fairfield,  surrounded  it,  and 
seized  and  carried  away  a  swivel.  Mr.  F.  l)eing  absent,  his 
wife  made  complaint  to  a. justice,  who  issued  a  warrant.  The 
constable  was  intimidated  and  called  upon  his  fellow  citizens 
to  aid  him,  when  about  thirty  men  took  arms  and  went  with 
him,  but  Wells'  men  presented  bayonets,  when  they  desisted, 
and  twenty  of  the  men  went  off.  Lieut.  Wells  ordered  the  re- 
mainder to  be  disarmed  and  bound,  when  tliey  were  taken 
with  the  swivel  to  Oswego.  On  the  evening  of  the  'ioth  of 
Sei)tendier,  the  same  party  returned,  as  reported,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  the  magistrate  and  constable  who  had  i.ssued 
the  papers.  A  wariant  again.st  Wells  and  two  others  for  felo- 
ny, in  breaking  o|)en  a  house  was  issued  at  Sackets  Harbor 
and  given  to  Andrew  Pease,  a  constable,  to  execute,  who,  af- 
ter examining  the  law,  raised  a  hue  and  cry  and  assembled 
about  "200  persons  in   Fllisbui'gh,  where  a  consultation  of  sev- 


I'DI.K-STnUlKS. 


ISl 


cral  inMU'istratcis  was  lu'ld,  and  tlic  next  day  at  sunrise  alioiit 
seventy  or  ei<;lity  men.  armed  and  e(|ui|)|)ed.  vulunteered  to 
aid  in  the  arrest,  l)ut  tlie  magistrates  durst  not  issue  the  ordiT 
lor  their  march,  heiii^  apiuehensive  tliat  some  excess  or  in- 
jury n)ij::hl  lie  done,  and  the  t|Uestion  havinji'  heen  raised 
whether  a  coiistahle  Iiad  a  rij^lit  to  (h'Uiand  aid,  lietoi'c  he  had 
heen  resisted,  tlie  arnu'(l  men  were  advised  to  disperse,  and 
the  civil  otlicer  reijuested  to  proceed    to  appi'chend  \\'ells  and 


the  others,  witliout  the  force  of  the  countv, 


ins  proceednig 


was  chiirifed  !)y  one  of  the  political  parties  as  an  attempt  of 
the  other  to  resist  hy  forci'  of  arms  the  execution  of  the  laws, 
and  mutual  eliminations  wei'c  exchaufi'ed  with  much  hitter- 
ni'ss. 


I'KTKI!    I'KNKT. 


■d 


A  tract  of  land,  s(|uare  in  form,  with  the  sides  running 
coincident  with  the  principal  cardinal  points,  and  its  north- 
west corner  resting  ujion  the  St.  Lawrence  at  the  mouth  of 
I'^rench  Creek,  is  "  Penet's  Sijuare.  " 

The  revolution  attracteil  to  America  many  French  ad- 
venturers, says  Ifough,  .some  of  whom  had  much  more  to  gain 
than  to  lose,  and  among  these  was  one  Peter  Penet.  of  Nantes, 
France.  Ileari'ived  at  I'rovidenc(;,  R.  I.,  hy  way  of  Cape 
l"'i'ancois.  (W.  I.,)  in  I)ecend»er.  177"),  having  letters  antl  cre- 
dentials which  at  first  securetl  him  sonu' attentions,  and  he  ob- 
tained from  a  committee  of  congress  a  contract  in  the  name  of 
De  Plaini',  Penet  it  Co..  for  supi)lying  a  large  amount  of  arms 
from  France.     He  also  made  separate  propositions   to   several 


."^K 

s^.^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Cbrporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STtEET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


.^^ 


lS-2 


I'OI.K-STOHIKS. 


of  the  colonics  for  powder,  arms  und  ordnance,  in  tlie  execu- 
tion of  whicli  he  proposed  to  sliip  a  large  amount  of  tobacco 
and  other  produce  directly  to  France.  He  had  various  other 
speculations,  all  of  which  proved  visionary,  and  it  soon  ap- 
peared that  he  was  oidy  a  needy  adventurer  without  capital 
or  character.  He  succeeded  in  procuring  advances,  which 
were  not  accoinited  for,  and  he  may  be  justly  called  "  The 
Confidence  Mim  "  of  the  revolution.  After  the  war  he  became 
an  Indian  trader  and  acquired  a  great  ascendency  among  the 
Oneidas.  When  these  people  were  holding  a  treaty  with  the 
state  in  iTiSS  for  the  cession  of  their  lands,  it  was  found  expe- 
dient to  consult  with  him  and  to  ask  his  aid  in  promoting 
these  measures  ;  and  as  they  were  stipulating  the  reservations 
to  be  made  for  themselves  and  friends,  he  "  dreamed  "  that 
they  would  give  him  a  tract  of  land  that  he  should  locate  some- 
where north  of  Oneida  Lake.  His  dream  was  fulfilled  in  the 
gift  of  ten  miles  sipiare,  which  bears  his  name,  but  before  the 
grant  was  perfected  he  Hed  from  the  country  and  the  title 
passed  to  a  creditor  for  a  consideration  of  five  shillings. 

While  ojterating  upon  the  credulity  of  these  simple 
people,  he  devised  a  plan  of  government  for  the  Oneidas,  that 
was  to  lead  them  to  that  perfection  to  which  few  civilized 
communities  attain.  The  national  affairs  were  to  be  managed 
by  a  (Jrand  Council;  all  differences  were  to  be  settled  by 
persons  eminently  wise  and  just;  a  tract  of  land  was  to  be 
rented,  and  tlu'  revenues  were  to  pay  all  public  charges, -of 
whatever  amount ;  no  lands  were  ever  to  be  alienated,  and  no 
cause  of  complaint  was  ever  to  arise.  It  was  resolved,  as  the 
highest  incentive  to  virtue,  "  that  as  soon  as  convenient 
material  can  be  procured,  eighteen  proper  marks  of  distinction 
shall  be  given  ;  three  representing  the  tribe  of  the  Bear  ;  three 
the   tribe  of  the  WoIf ;  and    three  the  tribe  of  the  Tortoise. 


F'OLK-STORIKS. 


is:^ 


n 
e. 


The  marks  of  the  chiefs  of  war  was  a  green  ribbon  striped  on  the 
side  with  red,  to  be  worn  on  the  U'ft  side  Nine  ninrks  of  dis- 
tinction for  the  chiefs  of  the  coucillors,  with  the  mark  of  an 
Eagle  on  a  red  ribbon,  to  go  ronnd  the  neck  and  hang  be- 
tween the  breasts.  Be  it  rememl)ered  that  those  chiefs,  whether 
warriors  or  councillors,  who  wear  this  badge,  must  be  men  of 
truth,  honor  and  wisdom  to  discharge  the  great  trust  of  na- 
tional business  now  put  in  their  hands,  and  whether  at  home 
or  abroad,  when  these  marks  are  seen,  it  will  be  remembered 
that  they  are  this  great  council  and  great  respect  will  at  all 
times  be  shown  them.  " 

This  scheme  of  government,  comprising  twenty  articles, 
contemplated  the  appointment  of  Peter  Penet,  their  "  true  and 
trusted  friend,  adopted  and  chosen  agent  forever,  "  as  their 
principal  executive  agent,  and  being  duly  signed  by  marks 
(not  one  being  able  to  read,)  this  shite  paper  was  published 
with  great  formality  in  the  Albany  newspapers.  It  is  needless 
to  add  that  it  had  not  .so  much  as  a  l)eginning  of  actual  real- 
ization. 

Some  time  after  Penet  had  absconded,  he  made  his 
appearance  in  San  Domingo ;  at  the  time  of  the  negro  insur- 
rection there,  he  invited  his  countrymen  to  buy  lands  on  his 
estates  in  Northern  New  York.  lie  ('.\liil)ite(l  a  iiuip  with 
fortified  cities,  on  the  north  shore  of  Oneida  Lake,  and  by 
false  representations,  induced  some  to  purchase  lands.  One  of 
these  unfortuiuxtes,  upon  arriving  in  New  York,  and  learning 
how  cruelly  he  had  been  deceived,  was  unable  to  bear  U|)  under 
the  affliction,  and  died  by  his  own  hand.  It  is  from  Penet 
that  this  place  on  the  St.  Lawrence  derived  the  name  of 
"  P>ench  Creek." 

The  successors  to  his  title  selected  the  mile-square  nearest 
the  river,  as  the  site  for  a  town,  and  caused  it  to  be  surveved 


184 


FOLK    STORIES. 


into  ten-acre  squares,  except  the  quarter  of  a  mile  directly  upon 
the  river,  in  which  each  of  these  lots  were  further  sub-divided 
into  four.  It  was  afterwards  laid  out  as  the  village  of  "  Cor- 
nelia," (named  from  Madame  Juhel,)  but  since  the  organization 
of  the  town  of  Clayton,  in  1833,  it  has  borne  this  nume. 

In  early  times  "  French  Creek  "  was  a  noted  point  for 
smuggling  ;  and  especially  in  the  embargo  of  1807-8,  when 
almost  all  of  the  region  north  of  Black  River  was  a  forest,  it 
became  a  principal  point  for  importing  goods,  and  for  sending 
potash  out  of  the  country.  It  was  found  impossible  to  guard 
this  frontier  so  as  to  prevent  crossing  with  teams  on  the  ice  in 
winter,  or  by  boats  in  summer,  and  the  most  that  the  author- 
ities attempted,  was  to  guard  the  roads  in  the  interior,  and 
intercept  such  contraband  goods  as  they  could  discover. 


A    STEAMER    BURNED. 

The  most  disastrous  accident  that  ever  occurred  on  Lake 
Ontario  happened  near  the  Ducks,  small  islands  near  the 
Canadian  shore,  about  forty  miles  from  Kingston,  on  the 
morning  of  April  30,  1853.  The  upper  cabin  steamer  Ocean 
Wave,  built  in  Montreal,  in  1851,  and  owned  by  the  Northern 
Railroad,  being  then  on  her  way  down  from  Hamilton  to 
Ogdensburgh,  took  fire  between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  was  burned.  The  lire  took  near  the  engine, 
and  appeared  to  have  been  occasioned  by  the  faulty  construc- 
tion of  the  boat,  which  had  been  on  fire  on  one  or  two  previous 
occasions.  When  the  flames  ware  discoved  they  were  making 
such  rapid  progress,  from  the  boat  being  newly  painted,  that 


FOLK-STf)KIKS. 


185 


the  small  bouts  could  not  bo  got  out,  nnd  in  loss  th an  five 
minutes  it  was  enveloped  in  flames.  The  terrific  scene  that 
ensued  defies  description,  the  miserable  victims  having  but  a 
moment's  time  for  deciding  by  which  mode  of  death  they 
should  perish.  The  light  attracted  the  schooners  Georgiana 
and  Emblem,  who,  with  .some  fishing  boats  from  the  shore, 
saved  twenty-one  persons  out  of  forty-four,  the  number  ol  the 
crew  and  passengers.  The  steamer  Scotland  catne  up  near  the 
wreck  about  .sunrise,  and  passed  without  rendering  assi.stance. 
According  to  the  affidavit  of  the  captain  and  crew,  there  was 
no  one  floating  around  the  place  at  this  time. 


at 


THE   FIRST    EXECUTION. 

On  the  16th  of  April,  1828,  the  public  was  aroused  by  the 
report  of  a  murder  committed  in  the  Perch  River  settlement 
by  Henry  Evans,  upon  Joshua  Rogers  and  Henry  Diamond, 
in  an  aff'air  growing  out  of  an  attempt  to  forcibly  eject  Evans 
without  legal  formality  from  premises  leased  b}'  a  brother  of 
Rogers.  A  family  quarrel  had  for  some  days  existed  in  the 
Rogers  family,  in  which  Evans  had  taken  a  part,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  murder  th(;  parties  had  been  drinking  an<l  were 
unusually  quarrelsome.  Evans  had  shut  himself  up  in  the 
house,  which  was  forcibly  entered,  with  threats  and  abusive 
language,  upon  which  he  seized  an  ax  and  mortally  wounded 
two,  and  badly  wounded  a  third,  who  recovered.  He  was  im- 
mediately arre,sted  and  at  the  June  term  of  the  court  of  oyer 
and  terminer  in  1828,  was  tried,  the  court  consisting  of  Nathan 
Williams,  circuit  judge,  Egbert  Ten  Eyck,  first  judge,  Jo.sq»h 


186 


FOLK-STOPIKS. 


Hiiwkins,  judgo,  HolxM-t  Lansing,  district  attorney,  H.  H. 
Sherwood,  clerk,  II.  H.  C'otfeen,  slieritl'.  The  district  attor- 
ney was  assisted  by  Mr.  Clarke,  and  the  pri.soner  was  defended 
by  Messrs.  Sterling,  Bron.son  and  Rathbone.  The  vicious 
temper  and  al)andoned  character  of  the  prisoner,  who,  whether 
drunk  or  sober,  had  been  the  terror  of  his  neighborhood,  out- 
weighed the  extenuating  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  the 
jury,  after  half  an  hour's  deliberation,  returned  a  verdict  of 
guil\v.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  hung  August  22d,  and  he 
was  executed  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  crowd  who  had 
as.sembled  to  witness  the  barbarous  spectacle  from  this  and 
adjoining  countief--  The  gallows  was  placed  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  river  nearly  opposite  the  court  house,  and  thither 
he  was  escorted  b}'  a  fife  and  drum  corps.  The  body  was 
taken  by  his  friends  to  BrownviP'?  and  a  grave  dug  in  the 
cemetery,  when  objections  were  ra..sed  and  one  person  swore 
that  he  should  not  be  buried  there.  Another  place  was  then 
got,  but  the  rock  was  reached  in  two  feet.  A  grave  was  next 
dug  just  outside  of  the  corporate  limits,  when  as  he  was  about 
to  be  lowered,  objections  were  again  raised  and  one  r:'  two 
women  were  seized  with  hysteric  iits  because  the  loca'ity  was 
in  sight.  The  corpse  was  finally  taken  back  three  or  four 
miles  from  the  village  and  buried  by  night.  The  lamentable 
prevalence  of  superstition  thus  evinced,  has  its  equal  only  in 
the  popular  l)elief  in  vampires,  which  on  more  than  one  occa- 
sion, has  disgraced  the  annals  of  this  and  neighboring  coun- 
ties. 


FKEXCH    BOX    VIVANTS. 


Until  about  1816,   the  settlements  along  the  river  were 
limited  to  a  few  points,  but  about  this  time  the  country  around 


For-K-STORIKS. 


187 


began    to    bo  taken   np ;    no^v    vo:u\s    u-.r.  o,„>n,.,l    in    overv 
<l.roct.on   and  for  a  short  linio,  th..  .-ountrv   a.lvanml  rapi.llv 
in  population  and   improvements,   wl.ic-h    co.itinued   till  th'e 
completion    of  the    Erie    CMnal.     At    Cape    Vineent,   several 
clueated  and  accomplished    French   fan.ilies   located  ;  an,onr 
whom,  m  1818,  was  Peter  Francis  iieal,  known  in  European 
history   as    Count    Real,    the    chief  of   police    un.ler    Napo- 
leon.      The     change     of     politi.-al     prospects     in      France 
in    a    fi^w     years,     recalled     many    celebrate.l    exiles    who 
had    adhered    to   the  fortunes   of  Xapoleon,    and    fled    from 
the  disasters  which  overtook  that  dynasty,  among  whom  were 
Count  Real,  and  others  who  had    made    this    countrv    their 
home.    At  about  the  same  time,  Mr.  F.  K.  Ilasler,  the  eminent 
philosopher  and  engineer,  having  become  interested  in  real 
estate  in  the  place,  went  there  to  reside  with   his  family  and 
planned  the  establishment  of  a  normal  school,  which  he  never 
perfected.     The  village  was  a  favorite  resort  with  Mr  Le  Kay 
and  he  was  often  accompanied    by  eminent  foreigners,  who 
never  visited  the  country  without  becoming  his  guosts  and 
sharing  that  refined  hospitality  which  he  knew  so  well  how  to 
bestow.     Th(>  first  visit  of  l.c  Ray   to  this  place   was  in  1803 
and  was  attended  with  th(>  following  incid(>iit : 

He  was  accompanied  by  (i„uvcrneur  Morris,  and  after 
visiting  Hrownville,  they  took  an  open  boat  to  continue  their 
.lourney  as  Mr.  Morris  ha.i  a  woo.len  h-g,  an,I  could  not  con- 
veniently travel  in  the  woods  by  the  rude  means  of  communi- 
cation which  the  country  then  atfonU-d,  and  he  was  moreover 
very  partial  to  sailing,  and  claime.1  to  be  especiallv  skillful  in 
managing  water  craft.  On  passing  (  herrv  Island.'  Mr.  Morris 
observed  that  there  must  be  fine  fishin^r  there,  and  as  he  had 
with  him  his  French  cook,  an.l  culinary  apparatus,  he 
declared  he  would  serve  his  friend  a  better  fish  dinner  than  he 


188 


Kor-K    STOKIKS. 


had  ever  tasted.  Mr.  Le  Kay  objected  that  it  was  getting  late 
and  cloudy,  and  they  had  a  great  ways  to  run  before  reaching 
Putnam's,  the  first  settlement  on  the  shore.  Nothing  would 
do;  Mr.  Morris  was  as  fond  of  good  cheer  as  of  sailing,  and 
they  stopped.  They  had  good  fishing,  and  a  capital  dinner  ; 
but  it  was  late  befoi'e  they  .set  .sail  again,  and  dai'k  before  they 
reached  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  they  were  obliged  to  sto|)  at 
Gravelly  Point,  two  miles  above  Putnam's,  where  they  pitched 
their  tent  and  went  to  bed,  for  they  had  all  the  necessary 
implements.  In  the  middle  of  the  night,  a  fire  built  before 
the  tent  set  it  in  Hames  ;  Mr.  Morris,  thus  unseasonably  dis- 
turbed, felt  nil  around  for  his  wooden  leg,  but  was  obliged  to 
flee  without  it.  The  e.\j»osure  to  wind  and  rain  produced  in 
Mr.  Le  Rav  a  very  violent  illness  and  he  with  ditticultv 
returned  to  Brownville.  Dr.  Klrkpatrick  was  procured  from 
Rome,  and  he  was  long  confined  with  a  dangerous  fever. 


lU'RIKI)    THKIR    RATIONS. 

There  were  not  wanting  incidents  of  a  ludicrous  kind, 
which  enlivened  the  monotony  of  the  camp,  and  showed  the 
lights,  as  well  as  the  shades  of  the  soldier's  life;  Abuses  will 
sometimes  work  their  own  reform,  as  was  illustrated  in  tin 
amu.sing  instance  at  Hackets  Harbor  during  the  war.  A  mess 
of  militia  soldiers  had  received,  for  their  rations,  a  hog's  head, 
an  article  of  diet  not  altogether  available,  or  susceptible  of  fair 
and  equal  division  among  them.  They  accordingly,  upon 
representation  of  the  facts,  procured  at  other  messes  in  the 
cantonment,  a  contribution  in  kind,  to  supply  their  wants  for 


SEIZUKE   OF    A    CANNON. 

The  irritation  which  the  events  of  the  "Patriot  Wu." 
cassioned,  di.l  not  at  once  subside  and  sever  Jnf/i?   Y      ■ ""' 
Steamers,  especially  the   [T„i  Ji  ^  "^^  ^^  *^' ^""^"^^^ 

aversion  on  L  CanU^^id^^  so^  liJ^Xlt  ^'^ 
was  leaving  Ogdensburg  on  the  evening  of  a;"  4   S' 

ove,„„g  .,,e  „.„,  „,,„  „„„„  „.„„  tl.e  wharf  atBr^k  He     ; 
subsecjuent  inou  rv  f.Jlorl   *^   «  "'"»-itviiie.     a 

W.c.k8,  stopped   at  Brock^nie  to  ^i'  '''""'""  *^'-  «' 

.n.s.io„  to  unloa,,  wa,  granted,  JnitZZ^TiujT 
7"  '"'■r»'«'-  »-  'ying  up„„  deck,  belo,";rg  to  the  1  " 
of  New  York,  „„d  co„sig„e.l  to  Captain  A.  I  JamJTal  ol^ 
.lensburg,  ben.g  sent  to  «plaee  one  that  had  beent7^'  ^yZ 


190 


K(»I,k'-ST()UIKS. 


"Patriots"  in  tlie  atiuir  at  tlio  Windmill   in  the  preceding 
year. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  seize  tliis  gvm,  which  was  resisted 
by  the  crew,  when  the  Collector  came  np  and  took  possession 
of  the  vessel,  under  the  pretext  of  some  irregularity  in  her 
papers.  The  gun  was  taken  out,  paraded  through  the  streets, 
and  fired  several  times  hy  the  mol)  in  triumph.  Word  was  sent 
to  Colonel  Worth  at  Sackcts  llai'l>or,  who  at  once  repaired  to 
the  scene  of  di.sturhance,  and  a  few  hours  after,  a  steamer  with 
British  Regulars  arrived  from  Kingston.  Hy  the  united  efforts 
of  the  military  officers  and  of  the  civil  magistrates,  the  gun 
was  timilly  surrendered  hy  the  moh  without  a  collision,  which 
for  a  time  seemed  imminent  and  inevitable,  and  some  of  the 
ring-leaders  were  arrested  and  lodged  in  the  guard-house. 
These  disturbances  brought  (iovernor  Arthur  to  Hrockville, 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  justify  these  proceedings,  by  those 
who  had  participated  in  them.  It  is  due  to  the  Canadian  Press 
and  to  the  more  considerate  portion  of  the  inhabitants  to 
notice,  that  they  very  generally  denounced  this  .stsi/ure  as  un- 
justified. The  Collector  was  removed  from  office,  and  the 
irritation  gradually  wore  away. 


(II II. I)    I.<»ST    IN*    THK    WOODS. 

'i'he  following  sketch  was  written  by  Mr.  David  ^ferritt, 
one  of  the  English  families,  who  located  at  Hackets  Harbor  in 
February,  ISOo;  the  occasion  was  the  loss  of  a  child  in  the 
woods. 

The  parents  of  the  child  had  recently  settlal  in  the  woods, 


l"<)l,lv-.ST()RlkS. 


101 


half  H  mile  from  imy  otlnT  dwrlliiif;.  It  wa.s  of  a  Lord's  day 
ovciiiiifi;,  ahout  sunset  ;  llif  father  set  out  to  visit  his  nearest 
iiei^hhor,  and,  unohserved  hy  liini,  his  son,  o  child  of  four 
years,  followed  him. 

The  father  tarried  an  Inair  or  two,  and  returned,  not  hnv- 
inn  seen  the  little  wanderer.  The  mother  anxiously  ciKiuired 
for  her  child,  siipposinfj  her  hushand  had  taken  him  with 
him  ;  their  anxiety  was  ^reat,  and  immediate  though  fruitless 
search  was  made  f(»r  the  fugitive.  Several  of  the  nearest 
neiglihors  were  alarmed,  and  tlie  night  Was  spent  to  no  pur- 
pose in  searching  for  the  child.  On  Mondny  a  moreextensive 
.search  was  ma<le  by  increased  numhers,  hut  in  vain  ;  and  the 
distressed  |)arents  were  almost  frantic  with  grief  and  fearful 
apprehensions  for  the  child's  safety. 

Another  atllictive  and  sleepless  night  ])assed  away,  and 
the  second  morning  heanu'd  upon  the  disconsolate  family,  the 
child  not  found,  and  hy  this  time  (Tuesday,)  reports  were  in 
circulation  of  a  panther's  having  been  seen  recently  in  the 
woods  by  some  one.  This  circumstance  gave  a  pungency  to 
thi>  grief  and  feelings  of  evi'iy  symi)athetic  heart  unknown 
before  ;  and  the  timi<l  and  credulous  were  ready  to  abandon 
any  further  etforts  to  recover  the  child,  and  give  the  distressed 
parents  up  to  dispair. 

It  was  however  concluded  to  alarm  a  still  more  extensive 
circle,  and  engage  fresh  volunteers  in  a  work  that  nuist  inter- 
est and  arouse  even  th(>  unfeeling  on  common  occasions.  A 
messenger  was  dispatched  to  Sackets  Harbor,  a  distance  of  six 
miles  ;  it  was  in  itself  iin  irresistible  appeal  to  every  feeling 
heart.     To  feel,  was  to  act. 

Messrs.  Lutt",  Ashby,  Merritt,  and  others  immediately 
mounted  their  horses,  and  repaired  to  the  scene  of  painful 
anxietv  ;  this  was  about  eleven  o'clock    in  the  forenoon    of 


1U2 


KoLK-STolUKH. 


Tufsilay.  Wlii'ii  they  jirrived  ivt  the  spot,  the  number  present, 
that  liad  eollccti'd  I'nun  all  quarters,  was  about  five  hundred 
men.  A  siuiill  nuinher  was  immediately  ehosen  as  a  commit- 
tee to  direet  the  Itest  method  of  seareh,  and  thev  were  formed 
in  a  line,  extending  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  house,  a  mile 
eieh  way.  They  were  placed  so  far  a  part  as  to  bring  every  foot 
of  ground  tiiey  [nissed  in  their  search  under  their  ob- 
servation ;  and  when  they  had  nuirched  such  a  given  di.stanco 
frou)  the  hou.se,  the  left  or  right  wing  were  to  wheel  in  such  u 
way,  as  would,  by  pursuing  the  same  plan,  have  effectually 
searched  every  sjiot  within  several  miles  of  the  house  before 
evening.  The  (trder  of  the  day  was  that  no  person  should 
fire  a  gun,  .sfiund  a  horn,  halloo,  or  make  any  needless  noist, 
uhatever;  but  with  vigilance,  and  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  dis- 
irei^sed  parents,  u.se  every  effort  to  recover  the  child.  If  the 
child  was  found  alive,  every  person,  that  had  a  gun,  was  to 
tire,  and  every  one  that  had  a  horn  to  sound  it ;  on  the  con- 
trary, if  the  child  was  found  dead,  one  gun  only  should  be 
tired,  as  a  signal  to  the  remote  line  to  cease  searching. 

In  this  way,  in  silence,  they  had  marched  about  two 
miles,  wiien  a  distant  gun  sounded ;  it  was  an  anxious 
moment.  "Is  the  child  alive?"  was  a  thought  that  ran 
through  every  mind  ;  a  moment  more  and  the  hope  was  con- 
finned,  for  the  air  and  forests  rang  with  guns  and  horns  of 
every  description. 

The  lines  were  immediately  broken  up,  and  each  ran, 
anxious  to  see  the  little  lost  sheep.  The  dear  little  fellow  was 
presented  to  his  now  overjoyed  parents ;  a  scene  that  overcame 
all  present. 

When  the  little  boy  was  found,  he  was  sitting  on  a  small 
mossy  hillocik,  in  the  middle  of  a  swamp,  surrounded  by 
shallow  wat<!r.     When  the  man,  who  first  approached  him, 


KOLK-STORrKS.  ^()3 

oxtondoclhiHanns  a.ul  stoppc.l  to  take  him  u,,,  he  shrank 
f>-oni  him,  appoaml  friirhtcn,.,!,  an.l  sh.nvcMl  a  disposition  .o 
Kot  fro,n  him.  Hut  hv  uas  much  ..xhaust..!.  an.l  sdz.,!  Hurorlv 
an  apple  that  was  hehl  to  hin..  Ila.l  he  not  been  rescued 
fro.n  his  situation,  he  probably  would   have  .lied  at  that  s„..t 


FIRST   LIFE    SAVIN.i    STATION. 

The  lake  shore  in  Elli.sburgh  has  been  the  scene  of  many 
wrecks  since  the  country  was  .settle.!,  the  Hrst  within  themem- 

7;  Ton  ?  ^'"''"^  ^'''^^  ^''"''  "^'"  '''^^''"f^'  ^•"'"'■■'^''I  i"  the  fall 
ofl800,vyhen  a, small  .schooner  fr.,m  Mexico  to  (Jananoque, 
Lapt^iin  (mmmon,  master,  was  l.,.st  .,ff'  Little  Stony  Creek  and 
all  on  boar.1  peri.shed.  A  boat  of  ei^ht  men  .sent  in  .search  of 
the  vessel  was  al.so  swamj.e.l  an.l  all  han.ls  were  .Irown-.l 

About  1807  a  family  was  lo(.-ate,l  by  Afr.  Benjamin 
NN  risht  at  the  mouth  of  San.ly  Cr.vk  to  affor.1  ai.I  to  the  ship- 
wrecke.1.  and  for  nearly  Hfty  years  this  lonely  .Iwellinghad 
sheltered  many  a  suffering  sailor  wh.>  nnght  ..therwise  have 
peri.shed. 


A   RARE   BOUNTY. 


The  anecdote  is  related   that  a  magi.strate  in  Champion 
having  had  an  altercation  with  a  hauling  citizen  in   Lowville' 
heard  that  his  opponent  had  oftercd   a  bounty  of  $5   for  his 


194 


l-'OLK-STOKIKS. 


head.  Fooling'  soimnvhiit  unoiisy  iiikUt  this,  he  resolved  to 
aseertaiii  its  truth,  and  made  the  journey  on  foot  on  purpose 
to  demand  satisiaetion  or  a  \vith(h'a\val  of  the  oM'ensive  reward. 
Upon  reaching  the  place  he  found  the  person  of  whom  he  was 
in  search  in  company  with  several  others,  and  not  wishin}>  to 
make  their  quarrels  a  suhject  of  publicity,  he  re(|uested  a  pri- 
vate interview.  This  was  ])romptly  refused,  on  the  ground 
that  there  was  nothing  between  them  that  re(|uire(l  seeresy, 
and  he  was  told  that  if  he  had  anything  to  say  he  might  say 
it  where  he  was.  He  then  commenced  hy  rejteating  the  story 
he  had  heard  and  demanded  whether  it  was  true.  His  enemy 
denied  at  once  the  charge,  calling  his  neighbors  to  witness 
whether  thev  had  ever  known  him  guiltv  of  the  tollv  as  the 
offering  of  such  a  sum,  but  admitted  that  he  might  have  l)id 
twenty  shillings  and  was  very  sure  he  had  never  gone  higher. 
Finding  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  this  bounty  taken  oil'  he 
returned  home.  We  are  not  informed  of  the  result  or  whetlu'r 
the  reward  was  sufHcient  to  ti'iiipt  the  cujtidity  of  his  neigh- 
bors. 


MIMT.VHV    KXKCITIONS. 

At  Sackets  Harbor  about  a  do/en  military  executions 
were  performed  during  the  war,  for  repeated  desertion,  with 
the  view  of  striking  tei-ror  into  the  minds  of  the  disail'ected, 
but  with  the  effect  of  increasing  the  evil.  These  cases  were 
many  of  them  young  men  from  New  Fnglaud,  of  respectable 
fannlies,  who  in  the  heat  of  political  excitement  had  enlisted 
in  the  armv,  and   who  found    them.selves  the  victims  of   the 


I'OI.K-STOIMKS. 


!!».-) 


nan  on  harl.ary  of  officers,  oxposo.l  to  tl.o  severest  hanlships 
o<  he  earn,.,  an.l  oft,.,,  illy  elaci,  an.l  worse  te<l,  so.notime.s 
-  i-ut  sl...|te..,  a,..|  nhvays  without  syn.pathv.  Was  it  Z 
na  un.  that  uncl.-r  ,l,.s.  eireu,.stanees  the  nu^nories  of  l„..„o, 
".'♦J'  all    Its    eo,nlor(s,  an.l    the  thouMl.ts  of  Mothers,  sisters 

rr; "  I'';'"';' ""' '"  ^''""^^"•'  "---tions  thai 

cluster  a,-ou„d  the  .lo„.,.sti<.  fi.vsi.lc,  shouhl  eon.e  tVeshlv  to 
-"!;'-tI.af;>,vethatwasin-esistil>ley  Seve,.!  of  these  1!^; 
ex<Mte.l  nnu-h  sy,n,,Mthy.  among  which  was  that  of  a  bov  ol 
sixteen  years  of  agv.  u-ho  had  hcen  b.-ihcl  with  a  gohl  Nva'tch 
to  open  a  pr.so„  ,loor  at  (i,v,M,l.usl,.  and  who  was  l.cv  a.Testcd' 
and  c...v.cted.  Ma,.y  odicc.  and  citizens  ,.,.de  sfcuous 
c  io.ts  to  ohtan,  reprieve,  which  were  enfor.-ed  hv  the  appc-als 
ofamoher,I.utw,thoutetrect;  the  a«o,.i.od   parent  fo  lowed 

K.  clnld  to  the  pdlows,  and  the  sy,,,p.thi4.  tears  of  th 
spectators  bespoke  the  feelin,-  which  this  ,.i.id  exercise  of  tl! 
iron  rule  of  war  had  occasioned. 

To    the   condemned     opportunity    was    always    yivcM,   to 
ni..ke  re.uarks,  in   which  some  ad.nittcl  the  justice"  of  their 
fate,  c.thers  p  ead  the  entn-aties  of  their  co.nra.les,  ..rthe  u.-o-ent 
necess.t,es   of    honu3 ;  and    othe.-s,    while    thev  acknowle.^ 
heir  cnme,  supphcated   nuMvy  with  all  the  elo.p.euc-e  whud, 
the  occasion  could  comn,and.     Others  treate.l   their  fate  with 
HKl.fference.  or  openly  preferred  it  to  a  lif..  un.ler  the  circum- 
s  a,u.es^     Ou    oue   occasion,  the  ouvic-t   on  approaching  the 
scaffold,  sc,.ut,m.ed  Us  construction   with   the  eve  of  a  cLn- 

terJeaped  up.>n   the  platlWrn.,  pushed  off  the  i.a,,gma,,,   .nd 
.)"'  M>o.I  off  hnnself ;   but  a  reprieve  ar,-ived   the  i„,:;;ant  fte 
;-'  iu-  u-as  .-estored.      The  place  of  execution  was  ,.,,0.11  v  in' 

^''-;7  •>'  tlu.  vilh.,e.  whe,v  ,he  ...aves  we.v  du,,  and  the 
-nv.cts  were  marched  to  the  spot,  surrounded  by  a  ,uard,  and 
after  kneehnK  by  tluMr  coffins,  were  ,lispatche,l  by  the  shcits  of 


]m 


FOLK-STOKIKH. 


of  several  muskets,  a  part  of  wliich  only  wore  loaded  with  ball. 
There  were  commonly  eight  men  detailed  for  this  purpose. 
The  brutality  of  officers  was  in  some  instances  excessive;  the 
most  extreme  corporal  punishment  being  inflicted  from  the 
slightest  causes,  or  from  mere  caprice ;  and  such  was  some- 
times the  bitterness  of  men  towards  officers,  that  in  one  case  it 
is  said  a  captain  durst  not  lead  his  company  in  an  action,  for 
fear  of  being  shot  by  his  own  men. 


THEY    CELEBRATED. 

The  first  celebration  of  our  national  independence,  in  all 
this  region  of  country,  was  held  at  Chaumont  in  1802.  The 
number  in  attendance  was  certainly  more  than  a  hundred 
p)ersons.  From  Champion  and  Hounsfield,  Watertown  and 
Brownville,  Sackets  Harbor  and  Cape  \'incent,  and  other 
points  of  settlement,  the  forefathers  and  foremothers  came  to 
do  homage  to  the  old  flag  and  the  land  of  the  brave.  Several 
were  Revolutionary  soldiers.  Food  and  drink  were  plenty. 
Indians  and  stjuaws  must  also  have  joined  the  festivities. 
Rum  and  maple  sugar,  shooting  at  a  mark  and  wrestling, 
stories  and  songs,  and  fife  and  drum,  could  hardly  have  been 
wanting  on  this  occasion,  although  there  is  no  published  re- 
port of  the  proceedings  to  guide  in  making  out  the  story  of 
that  Fourth  of  July. 


BLOCKHOUSE SCHOOLIIOUSE. 

( !(»nsi<lerable  alarm  was  felt  at  Chaumont  in  1812  lest  the 
Jiritish  should  come,  pillage  their  homes    ami   burn    them; 


I''()r,K-STr)KlKs. 


197 


north  shore  of    he     ,,v      V      ^  ""'".''  "'^'  """«  ■™"-'  ™  ^e 
soldier.,  visited    the  lee       ."*"  """''  "  "'"'"^  "'  >"'S'-h 

artillery' f  thisTrf"   consi  re^'o?'""   '"""'''"'■     ''''' 
Jonas    Smith    hnd    „ ,    ^""f*"^   "'  «"    ™„    gu„    which 

Lula.     IZward   r/°"       ""  ""■  '«">™"s  of  Point  Pen- 
enemy  °  *"  Oglensburg,  where  it  was  c„„tur«l  hy  the 


^ 


A  Past  Industry. 

TIk"  ii<luMics  of  Cliauiuont   Bay   iittonliMl   from    an   early 
,„.ri(Ml  a  k'a.ling  pursuit  for  many  persons  livino-  m  the  vu-m- 
ity  an.l  have  l.een  pro(hu-tive  of  nuu-h  henelit   to   the  loeahty 
,u'ui  the  puMie  oenerally.     The  earliest   enactment  relatu.j--  to 
thishraneh  ot  industry  commenees  with  the  eentury.    ithavuif.- 
heen  repres(>nte(l  that  people   from   Canada   an<l   other   places 
were  doinu- injustice  to  the  fisheries  at   the   east  end    of  Lake 
Ontario  l>v  ol>struetin,u'  the  rivers  and  streams  hy  seines,  a  law 
was  passed  March    "iSth,  ISOO,  prohihitiuf--  the   placing' of  ob- 
structions to  the  passage  of  Hsh  under  a  penalty  of  $25.     This 
was  prol)al)ly  fr.)ni  representations  of  citizens  in  KUislmrgh  as 
Lyme  was  then  without  inhabitants. 

In  1S(»S  tishin^-  with  scoo))  nets,  called  here  scaff  nets  be- 
„un  wrote  Dr.  Ilouj-h  in  1S:>;},  and  has  been  more  or  less 
cnnstantlv  i.ractice.1  siiuH..  This  net  is  about  12  feet  s(,uare, 
stretched  bv  two  lonji  bows  cn.ssin^r  each  other  and  let  down 
horiz<.ntallv  into  the  water,  bein^'  balanced  on  a  lonj.'  pole 
poised  on  a  j.ost  on  the  banks.  When  fish  pass  over  it  the 
net  is  suddeiilv  raised  and  swunji  round  on  the  bank.  Some- 
times m)  tish"  or  more  are  thus  caught   in  a   night.      [White- 


A     PAST    IMHSTHY. 


Ml'.) 


he 

ko- 


fish  and  .salmon  tront  wore  taken  in  frrcat  (jnantilics  hy  this 
crude  method  on  Point  Saluhrious.]  Seines  were  soon  ;il>er 
introduced,  tlie  first  one  l>einu  hroujflit  from  the  llml-inn  hy 
Daniel  Trem|»er.  These  .seines  are  from  10  to  10(1  rods  lonji', 
from  20  to  100  feet  hroad,  wider  in  tiu*  middle  and  narrower 
at  the  ends,  where  they  are  attacheil  to  rods  callefl  jack  stiikes. 
To  the  cords  alonfi  one  side  are  attached  tlojits  and  to  the 
other  leaden  sinkers  und  to  each  staff  is  fixed  a  lonjj;  rope. 
When  used  the  seine  is  taken  (»ut  in  a  boat  one  rope  l)ein<f 
left  on  .shore,  and  when  a  few  rods  out  it  is  allowed  to  run  off" 
in  a  wide  circuit  until  it  is  all  of!',  when  the  other  line  is  taken 
ashore  and  l)oth  ends  are  drawn  in  hy  windlasses  erected  for 
the  purpose  and  turned  bv  hand,  or  more  recently  sometimes 
by  horse  power.  The  meshes  of  the  net  which  are  from  one 
to  one  and  onedialf  inches  scjuare,  allow  the  smaller  fish  to 
escape,  while  the  larger  ones  are  scooped  out  when  the  seine 
is  drawn  into  shallow  water.  From  one  to  three  hours  are  oc- 
cupied in  drawing  the  seine  and  the  product  of  a  haul  varies 
from  nothing  to  7">   barrels,  the  average  being  six  or  seven. 

These  seine  fisheries  are  mostly  around  Point  Salubrious 
but  other  places  inside  of  the  bay  are  found  eligible  to  a  less 
extent.  They  are  considered  the  ])roperty  of  those  who  own 
the  adjacent  lands  and  the  seines  are  owned  and  labor  done 
by  the  resident  farmers  a.^^sisti'd  ])y  laborers  who  come  in  from 
adjacent  towns  for  the  {»urpose.  'i'he  principal  Hsh  caught  for 
market  are  lake  herring,  locally  known  as  eiscoes,  and  white- 
fish,  an<l  the  season  for  taking  them  usunlly  begins  about  tlie 
first  of  November  and  continued  three  or  four  weeks.  This  is 
the  .spawning  season  for  these  fish  and  the  shores  are  then 
lined  with  immense  quantities  of  their  ovji.  Seines  are  drawn 
by  preference  in  the  evening  or  night. 

No  positive  duta  can   be  obtained  shuwiag  the  average  or 


200 


A    PAST    INDI'STRY. 


aggregate  quantity  taken,  but  the  opinion  of  those  most  ac- 
(luainted  with  the  business  is  that  since  1816  about  10,000 
barrels  of  herrnig  and  white  fish  have  been  eaught  annually. 
Seasons  vary  in  the  abundance  of  fish  ;  it  is  observed  that  the 
best  yields  oeeur  in  high  water.  Of  late  years  the  yield  is 
less  than  formerly,  which  is  attributed  to  the  use  of  gill  nets 
and  the  mixture  of  saw  dust  and  other  matters  in   the  water. 

(Jill  nets  have  been  introduced  since  1845,  are  from  five 
to  eight  feel,  (about  fifty  meshes)  wide,  from  ten  to  fifteen  rods 
long,  uniform  in  widtii  and  furnished  with  staves  at  the  ends. 
These  are  provided  with  sinkers  on  the  lower  and  floats  on  the 
upper  side  and  connected  together  form  lines  several  hundred 
rods  long.  When  in  use  they  lay  near  the  bottom  and  their 
places  are  indicated  by  buoys.  Once  daily  they  are  drawn  up 
and  the  fish  removed,  which  sometimes  amount  to  a  barrel  in 
ten  rods.  As  the  fish  become  entangled  by  their  gills,  respi- 
ration ceases,  and  they  are  almost  invariably  found  drowned, 
for  which  reason  they  are  justly  considered  inferior  for  food 
and  more  liable  to  spoil  when  put  up  for  sale.  These  nets  are 
generally  set  in  November. 

A  snudl  business  was  done  early  in  spring,  in  fishing  for 
pike  in  seines,  gill  nets  and  by  spearing,  and  the  shores  and 
coves  of  Chaumont  Bay  have  long  been  the  favorite  resort  for 
the  disciples  of  Izaak  Walton,  who  at  most  sea.sons  find  an 
ample  and  inviting  field  for  the  use  of  the  trolling  line  and 
spear ;  or  a  romantic  cruise  by  torchlight  and  inducements  to 
lounge  away  the  lazy  hours  of  daylight  with  reasonable  hopes 
(jf  a  nibble.  Pike,  i)ickerel,  muscallonge,  perch,  bass  and  sun- 
fish,  are  caught  readily  by  the  hook  and  the  former  in  all  sea- 
sons. The  seines  used  here  are  generally  made  on  the  spot  of 
linen  or  cotton  twine  and  cost  from  $100  to  $300. 

In  1817,  April  lo,  a  law  was  passed  requiring  all  fish  bar- 


A    PAST    INDUSTRY. 


201 


r- 


reled  foi-  sale  in  the  (;ounty  to  be  inspected  and  branded  and 
the  size  of  barrels  and  quantity  of  salt  to  be  used  were  pre- 
seribed.  In  1S23,  April  13,  another  law  relatinj^  to  this  sub- 
ject was  passed  ;  March  S,  1830,  an  additional  inspector  was 
appointed,  an<l  April  15,  bS.'io,  the  inspection  of  fish  was  dis- 
continued. Calvin  Lincoln  was  appointed  inspector  June  11, 
1817,  M.  Evans,  March  10,  1818,  and  Benjamin  T.  Hliss  on 
I'oint  Salubrious  afterwards.  The  early  laws  were  disrejijurdi'd, 
but  the  latter  strictly  enforced,  yet  the  restriction  was  always 
considered  odious  by  the  fishermen  who  sought  many  ways  of 
evasion  and  finally  procured  their  removal. 

By  far  the  most  successful  fishing  in  Chaumout  bay  has 
been  with  the  pound-net.  This  method  of  fishing  was  intro- 
duced in  the  spring  of  isr)0  by  Rali)h  li.  Rogers,  the  son  of  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  wiio  was  one  of  three  brothers  in  the 
Bunker  Mill  engagcnu'iit,  and  himself  a  veteran  of  the  war  of 
1812.  He  set  a  pound-net  off  the  shore  of  i'oint  Peninsula, 
and  about  the  middle  of  October  another  was  set  by  O.  H. 
Kirtland,  Lucius  P.  Inghram,  and  I).  W.  Clark,  who  came  on 
from  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  for  the  purpose.  The  yields  were 
enormous  for  the  next  two  or  three  years,  and  it  was  sometimes 
impossible  to  care  for  t'lc  fish  which  were  caught. 

The  aver'ige  size  of  the  pound-net  is  30  feets(juare,  and  it 
is  usually  set  in  about  30  feet  of  water,  although  nets  to  fish  in 
40  feet  were  not  unusual.  This  is  .securely  fastened  to  four 
stakes  driven  firmly  into  the  bottom,  with  the  upper  ends  two 
or  three  feet  out  of  water.  From  this  pound  or  receiver, 
towards  the  shore,  is  a  large  heart-shaped  net,  with  the  apex 
terminating  in  the  pound.  From  the  base  of  the  heart  a 
leader  is  run  back  to  the  shore,  and  fastened  to  stakes  a  hun- 
dred feet  apart;  the  average  length  of  the  leader  is  thirteen 
hundred  feet,  and  the  stakes,  as  in  the  other  instance,  are  firndy 


202  A  J'AST  ixnrsTRY. 

ch-ivon  into  the  bottom  of  the  bay.  The  fi.h  meet  this  long  line 
„f  netting,  follow  it  down  into  the  heart,  an.l  work  towards  the 
anex,  because  of  it.  peculiar  shape.  At  the  apex  is  a  large  fnn- 
„cl,  with  a  large  pas.^age  out  of  the  heart,  an.l  a  smaller  one  at 
the  outer  end,  which  terminates  in  the  pound  or  receiver.  After 
the  fi«h  have  once  passed  through  the  funnel  mto  the  large 
sc.uare  pound-reaching  from  the  surface  of  the  water  to  the 
bottom  of  the  bay,-the  chances  of  escape  are  very  small. 
From  a  net  of  this  kind  a  hundred  barrels  of  hsh  have  been 
taken  at  one  time.  They  are  now  little  used  except  for  taknig 
spawn  for  the  state  hatcheries. 


Three  Links. 

Massir;7w?'r'""  "'"^^  '^'"'  '•>  ^'- ^"'-in."  Mr.  Solon 
^o^      of     .         "i    "■"'   ^""^••"'"^^••1   '-'-y   entertaining  anoc. 
'iotes  of    th,.    oarluM-   s.-ttl.,.    vvl.icl.    wore    puhli.horl  In   the 
.Jett(>rsoinan    1,sr)l-"i->      'n,-    fi         i-  n      • 
this  vohune':  ''"'"  '""^'"'"^  "^^  ^^'^^^^^  ^^^ 

I.OST    I.V    TlIK    WOODS. 

J"  "Hv  person  u-ho  realizes  what  a  dense  howling  wilder- 
ness   h,s  eonntry  was  at  the  tin.e  of  its  first  oeeupation  bv  our 
.      CMS    „    ..,,     not   he  surprising  that    there   were  instances 
'''^'";'''e'|uent,  uf  p,.,s„ns  heing  lost  in  (he  woods. 

''.'*"■';'/:"•"'  '''visions  <,f  hill  „„i  dale,  or  upland  and  low- 
^""  .    •'.    tins   eoniparative  level  country,    afforded   hut    few 
I»".dn,arks  to  the  unlueky  wight  who  happened  to  get  at  fault 
m    US  r,.H.anngs,  and    even   those   uho  were  best  ac.nainted 
^^.th  the  uMfurai  seenery   of  the   traekless   forest,  innnediately 
surroun.lu.g  our  settlement,  were  sometime.,  compelled  to  ex' 
pcnenee  the  startling  reality  of  being  lo.st  in  the  woo,ls  ;  which 
was  m.l.eated  by  finding  themsehvs  following  a  circle-coming, 
round  and  roun.l  an.l  round  again,  (o  the  same  startino-  point 
.n  sp.te  of  all  (heir  efforts  f.  follow  out  a  continuous  .sti-aight' 
course.  " 

This  liability  to   be   ]o«t  was  eo  well  understood,   that 


204 


THRKK    1,1  NKS. 


whenever  any  member  of  the  fiimily  was  longer  away  in  the 
forest  than  was  expected,  the  ahirm  was  given,  and  a  rally 
made  of  all  the  men  and  boys  in  the  diflerent  settlements  in 
the  vicinity,  and  a  general  and  systematic  searcii  instituted 
with  preconcerted  signals. 

And  yet  even  the  liability  to  get  lost  did  not  deter  or  [)re- 
vent  frequent  intercourse  with  the  woods.  The  forest  was  the 
"  long  pasture"  where  the  cows  lived  in  summer,  and  where 
they  had  to  be  hunted  over  long  ranges  of  upland,  or  of  swale 
and  beaver  meadow,  as  their  fancy  or  necessity  led  them  to 
forage  for  them.selves.  It  was  the  botanic  garden  where  a  long 
list  of  medicinal  plants  were  found,  which  were  relied  upon  as 
preventives  of  the  diseases  that  were  incident  to  our  new 
country,  or  as  a  sovereign  balm  for  every  wound  with  which 
we  might  be  afHicted  for  the  time  bi'ing.  It  was  the  place  for 
berrying  for  a  great  variety  of  fi'uits  and  berries  in  their  season 
the  great  range  from  which  we  hunted  out  our  natural-crook 
scythe  snaths,  our  crotched  trees  for  harrows  and  cart  tongues, 
our  ax  halves,  ox  yoke  and  ox-bow  timber,  broom  sticks, 
etc.;  and  finally,  it  was  tiie  great  hunting  ground  for  a  variety 
of  wild  game,  with  which  to  supply  our  tables  with  meat,  in 
the  absence  of  domestic  animals  for  food.  Woods  was  the  rule, 
clearings  the  exception. 

One  incident  among  a  great  many  others,  comiected  with 
being  lost  in  the  woods,  may  be  transcribed  from  the  earliest 
traditional  history  of  Watertown,  and  which  is  something  as 
follows : 

('apt.  James  Parker  owned  and  occupied  a  large  body  of 
land  (now  a  farm)  on  the  Brownville  road,  at  present  occupied 
in  part  by  his  son  James.  IIn  had  a  large  family  of  sturdy 
boys,  the  oldest  of  whom,  at  the  time  our  tradition  dates,  was 
fourteen  to  sixteen  years  of  age.     The  old  gentieman,  like 


Til  hi:/;    LINK'S. 


205 


many  others  .,(  „„>•  ....torprising  settlers,  wms  cleHrin^r  up  a 
hn^v  farm,  and.  for  tl.e  purpose  of  .nakin^  the  most  out  of  his 
ns  H.S  hm  a  small  potash  works,  where  he  u-orke,!  them  into 
potash  or  hlaek  salts. 

In  the  process  of  manufactui-e,   it  seems   he  wanted  some 
hemlock  gum,  and  at   the  .same  time   wanted  .some  groceries 
rom  the  httle  place  yclepte.l    a   store   here  in  the  village      So 
handmg  the  hero  of  our  story  a  silver  .h.llar,   he  hid  him  take 
his  ax   ai.d  a  hag,  and   on  his  way  to  or  from  the  .store  to  pro- 
cure so,,  .  gum.     With  this  errand  and  equipment  he  .started, 
after  d'.ner,  on  his   way  to  the  place;  he  proceeded  as  far  as 
the  foe;  of  the  J<olts   Hill    (H.    H.   Cotteen's   late   residence) 
where,  stretching  away   to  the   ..outh    was  an   ahundance  of 
iH'mlock  tunher,  and   intent  on  performing  the  hardest  and 
most  d.tlK-ult  part  of  his  task    first,   and   not    wi.shing  to  ri.sk 
losing  his  dollar,  he  struck  his  ax  into  a  large  tree  and  loo.sen- 
mg    a   chij.   he    carefully    deposited    the    coin    in   the   cavitv 
between  the  loo.sene.l  chip  and    the   ho<lv  of  the  tree  for  saf'e 
keeping,  mtending  to  c.m.e   hack    to  that  ..farting  point  with 
I'ls  ax   an.l  hag,  and  leave  them  there  in  their  turn,  while  he 
ran  up  to  the  store  and  hack. 

Well,  after  a  while  he  found  him.self  sufficientiv  provided 
with  gum,  and  started  off  a  kind   of  Indian  lope  ft/r  the  place 
where  he  had  left  the  dollar,   passing  in   his  wav  a  spring  of 
water,  upon  the  surface  of  which  was  a  thick  velfow  scum    re- 
sembling ,ron  rust.     On,  on.  r.„    he  traveled; .sweating  uiider 
Ins  loa.l,  and  with  the   lurking  .suspicion    that  .something  was 
wrong   hedi.ln't  know    what.     After  a   good  while,  however, 
and  when   he  knew  he  must  have  traveled  more  than  any 
distance  that  could  possibly  have   been   between  the  bust  gum 
tree  and  the  one  containing  his  dollar,  he  made  a  full  halt  for 
the  purpoto  of  u  reckoning.  One  thing  was  very  certain— that 


206 


TIIISKK    LINK? 


he  had  traveled  fnster  iMiminj;-  Imck  tlmii  wlu'ii  ^oiii^i,  mid  Imd 
been  longer  about  it.  Tliat  liad  a  bad  bM)l<  I  tbcii  be  tb(iuj;bt 
it  curious  tl.cre  sbould  liavc  been  tiirci'  ni'  tbdsc  iron  ore 
springs,  bxtking  so  nearly  alike  I  And  linally.  llic  iiiun'  be 
soliloquized  tbe  more  be  satisbtMl  biinscH' tliat  lie  was  htst. 

What  added  not  a  little  to  bis  itcrplcxity  was,  tiiat  twiligbt 
was  already  s[»reading   her  mantle  u|i(tn  tbe  forest,      it  would 
therefore  be  necessary  for  bini  to  select  wiieic  be  would  spend 
the  night,  so  far  as  there  was  any  eiioiee  of  a  sbeltei'ed  plaee  in 
the  woods.     He  was  not  long  in    tiiiding  a  large  standing  tree 
that  afforded  just  the  nook  he    wantecl,  betweiMi  two  roots  that 
stood  well  out  on  either  side,  and  having  enseoneed  himself  in 
a  sitting  po.sture,  with  bis  baek   against   tbe   tree,  and   tbe  ax 
between  his  knees,  he  [»repared  to  face  any  dangei'  that  miglit 
offer,  and  to  sleep  away   the   long   bours  of  the   night.      He 
would  have  telegraphed  the  folks  at  home  that  be  was  saf»>,  if 
he  coubl.      lie  boj)ed  \])vy  W(ndd  not  be  iiiueb  alarmed.      i5ut 
they  were  though,  and  after  sunset  tbe  old  gentleman  gt)t  un- 
easy and  started  out  the  way  that  be  sboulil  <'ome,  Just  to  meet 
him — if  be  was  safe — but  with  a  kiml  of  pi'esentment,  to  succor 
him  if  in  trouble.     He  kept  on,  occasionally  slopping  to  listen, 
and  sweating  with  bis  apprehension,   and   imagining  a  whole 
catalogue  of  mishaps  (bat  might   have  befallen  bim — whetber 
be  bad  lost  bis  way — or   bad    maimi'd  himself  with    tbe  ax — 
or  a  tree  bad  fallen  upon  bim — oi'.  what  was  certainly  possible, 
.some  ravenous  wild  beast  bad  devoured  bim — all  was  a  matter 
of  painful  doul)t.  fear,  an  uncertainty. 

't  was  not,  bowever,  until  after  be  bad  n^acbod  tbe  vil- 
lage, and  found  by  en(juirv  that  bis  boy  bad  not  ben  there, 
that  his  fearful  forebodings  of  .some  horrible  evil  wcTe  con- 
firmed. 

(living  tlie  alarm  here,  and  begging  of  tho  good  i)eople  to 


'I'lllfKK    LINKS. 


207 


nilly.|nirl<lynn,|  uu.-t  .urh  l-.Tsons  „s  h.  . ;ouI.l  sumrd  in 
';"".""'■-'■'■■""  '>-■•'"  nvill...  In.  h,,si,.,H..|  ho.uv  in  such  H  skte 
"I  "ii'Ml  .MS. •,■,!,  1,,.  I.rtn.r  ii.iaMi,,,.,!  Ill,,, I  .l,.s,.ril„,|. 

>>''iN.is  aiTiv,,|  iM.ni...  tl...  linnily  l,n<l  not  ,,Mrtnk..n  vn-v 
'""'••"•ll.isnw,,..,!,,,.,,,.  l.ut  „nu-.  wiml  n  sM.l  m.hI  som.NvfuI 
••""'l""'r  '"•'■  "'".v.  ,,s  |,„m...|lv  ilH.y  Miak,.  tho  nm^ssarv 
l"*;i'-'""""-"-  ^vitli  ,,i,n.  l<„o(s  ,,„.l  Imd,  hark  (or  (oH...s  l.orn's 
'"Ml  MUiis  Inrs.on.ls.  „Hl  ,vrn.sl,Mu..,ts  Cor  tl,.  n.issiujr  |,ov  if 
Iw'sl.oul,  lM.|nun.l,.n,|  (nr,l>,.  kin.l  .u>i;,l.l,ors  who  wm".  in 
""  l"'«>l'fil>ili(.v  to  !„■  in  the  woods  all  niyht. 

'"  ''"<•  'i""'.  i'  liii-Ki'  co.ni.uny  of  ni.'n  and  Ijovs  wciv  as- 
sy.nl.  ..d.  and  havino  o,oMi.i/,..|  into  bands,  with  i.rc.c..nc-c'rted 
Hj-nals.  tli,.ysl,,,..k  oil  int..  th,.  foivst.  whilo  fho  inotluT  and 
sisl.Ts  of  til,.  MiissniK  I'oy  sat  in  tlic  o,,,,,  door  of  thoir  loi.clv 
n"n,.Mi,.nt  t.,  await  th.  slow  and  tr.lious  msult,  and  so  as  to  l.; 
'"  a  situation  to  ,.atcli  tin.  first  sound  of  anv  signal  mu..  hh- 
"•'iiiicni^-  the  latt'  ol  him  tlicy  loved. 

Thus  |.ass,..l  thr  first    half  of  th.  ni^ht.     The  hunt  pro- 
<-"'''l<"l  uith   ,un.a.    fid,.li,y.  so   that    ..ycry    rod   uf  the  ground 
mis  n.spcrtrd,  th,.  horns  sounding  at  regular  intervals  of  time 
so  as  to  [.reserve  the  line  ..f  niareli,  or  to  eateh   the  ear  of  the' 
hoy  if  preadventure  he  was  alive. 

TIr.  party  had  proceeded  (.n  earefullv,  until  within  a  few 
'•-'ds  of  where  the  h...)  of  th,-  play  kept  his  night  vigil,  before 
h.s  drean.s  wer..  disturbed  and  h,-  .uflieientlv  awake  to  know 
<l'""  '<  was  for  his  benelit  that  the  horns  were  sounded;  but 
when  fairly  awak,.,  he  was  n..t  long  in  vacating  his  .|uiet  re- 
<'•*'"<-  ■•in.l  arresting  the  further  progress  of  the  .search  by 
presenting  himself  in  propria  per.sona..  with  his  ax  on' his 
shMulder  and  gum  bag  under  his  arm,  before  the  satisfied 
cavalcade. 


li.nig'    bang!    bang!    rang  out  in  (piick  .succession 


upon 


20S 


TIIHKK    LINKS. 


the  iiiji'lit  air,  rovi'rlH'i'iitiiiji'  to  ciicli  cxtrcinity  of  llic  lonu,  line 
of  wt'ai'v  liuntcrs,,  till'  |>rceoiit'erte(l  signal  wliicli  notitictl  tli«' 
(luick  ear  of  the  listeiiinj;'  luotlioi'  and  sistci's  that  I^Uick  was 
safe.  There  was  more  joy  inaiiifesteil  that  iiiulit  over  the 
bov  that  was  jouiid  than  over  all    them  that  went    not  astrav. 


A    MAX    SHOT    1$Y    HIS    FHIKND. 

In  the  fall  of  ISOl,  there  was  a  man,  whose  name  was 
Dayton,  who  obtained  a  contract  for  a  piece  of  land  lyinji' 
south  of  the  road  to  Hrownville,  as  you  climb  the  Folts  Hill. 
He  built  a  small  log  house  in  the  woods,  near  the  present  road, 
and  was  keeping  bachelor's  hall,  through  the  months  of  Sep- 
tember and  October  of  that  year,  with  no  other  companion 
than  a  young  man  who  was  a  brother  to  his  wife.  He  was 
intending  to  remove  his  family  here  in  the  spring,  but,  as  it 
turned  out,  he  lacked  the  fortitude  and  courage  which  were 
requisite  for  ])ioneer  life. 

While  thus  living,  an  event  occurred,  which,  for  the  time 
being,  quickened  the  jiuLses  of  the  entire  comnuniity.  and 
which  seeme<l  more  like  tragedy  than  any  [)revious  occurrence 
in  our  brief  history. 

There  was  a  {)roject  for  a  squirrel  hunt,  among  the  scat- 
tered inhabitants  of  the  .several  neighborhoods,  and  Dayton 
and  his  brother-in-law  were  expecting  to  particifiate  in  the 
general  war  against  the  sciuirrels  and  other  vermin,  who  were 
likely  to  get  more  than  a  fair  proportion  of  the  first  corn  crop 
ever  cultivate(l  in  these  wilds — though  they  them.<elves  had  no 
corn  fields.     And  lu'ic  we  remark  by   th''  way,  how  unHeliisli 


THRKK    LINKS. 


209 


inon  l.(>cr,n,o,  ms  so.,,,  as  thoy  «et  beyond  the  old  settlements 
Mutual  depe,Kleni-o  s„on  ...vc-ts  a  softoninir  influence  upon  the 
''""'""•'<'"'•<.  -•',,.1  the  sy.npathies  H..vv  out  without  stint  as 
often  as  the  sufleniiMs  prese„t  themselves  for  aid  or  sympathy 
I  Ins.  pn.Uahly.  is  the  du,.  f,  that  pn.ve.-hiaj  happiness,  whic-h 
"1  all  aj:es  and  in  all  ••(.mitrie.s,  dates  haek  to  the  pioneer  set- 
tlements in  a  new  country. 

With  the  purpose  of  having  his  «un   in  readiness  for  the 
appi-oaehiny  hunt,  Mr.  Dayton  took  it  (h.ui,  one  evening,  from 
Its  place  over-head,  and   .sitting   down   hefo.v   the  blazing  Hre 
laid  ,t  across  his  knees,  preparatory  to  taking  off  the  lock  and' 
oiling  Its  pinions,  .so  as  to  insure  a  smart  motion  of  the  hammer 
spring,      fie  was  not  aware  that   it  contained  a  full  charge  of 
powder  and  shot,  or  that  it   was   loaded   at  all;  but  carelessly 
held  the  muzzl<>   towanls   his   friend,    who  was  sitting  in  the 
other  corner  of  the  fire-place,  keeping   up   a  cheerful  light   by 
timely  contributions  of  light,   dry  combustibles,    to  tne  open 
fiiv.      It  IS  probable  that  he  pulled  the  trigger  without  thought 
or  motive;  but  what  was  l,is  horror  and  amazement  when  his 
pHH-e  discharged     with   a   report  that   was  almost  deafening 
flUmg  the  room  with  smoke,  and  then  he  heard  his  companion 
fail  to  th(-  floor-,  exclaiming  "  I  am  sh<,t  !   I  an,  sli(.t  I  " 

They  had  no  light  but  the  open  lire,  and  the  smoke  was 
so  thick  and  suffocating  that  no  e.xaminatic.n  could  be  made. 
It  was  all  uncertain,  what  the  e.xt(>nl  of  the  injury  might  be  ■ 
but  knowing  that  Doctor  Isaiah  Massey  had  recently  arrived 
from  X'ermont  to  share  our  fortunes  with  u.s,  and  that  he  was 
boanling  at  our  village  tave,-n.  it  was  agreed  that  Davton 
should  find  his  way  th,-ough  the  dark  pine  woods  which  in- 
tervened, and  bi'ii,g  the  doctor. 

My  father  lia<l  some  e,,,',,  eolleeted  from  his  fiehl,  and  with 
the  male  m..mbers   of  his  family-kind    men  and  boarders- 


210 


niKKK    LINKS. 


(l()C't( 


)]•  llicll 


idcd. 


was  ill  tlic   house   (lo 


hiirn.i 


husk 


iin: 


and 


my  mother  was  l<ee|iiiiu  lier   iii,<i'lit    vi*iils  ahme  in  tlie  house 
wlieii  her  ear  doteeted  tlie  (juiek,  hurried  ste])  of  Mr.  |)aytoii 


as  he  rushed    into  the   dooi', 
hi'other,  and  want  the  (loetoi' 


e.Nclaimiiu 


liave 


kill 


ed  niv 


I 


.\^ 


■;oo 


n  MS  he  was  suflieientlv 


composed  to  state  his  ease  uiKU'i'standinjily.  he  was  directed  to 
the  huskiiiii,'  party,  tor  the  (hietor.  whih'iiiy  iiiotiier.  as  it'  l)y 
in.stinct,  set  iierselt'  ahoul  prepariny'  some  ch'aii  linen  raiis, 
for  haiuhijics  and  lint,  and  sonu'  tallow  candles  for  lijihts,  with 
which  our  young  Ksculapius  was  soon  on  his  way,  on  horse- 
hack  and  alone,  to  answer  (o  the  first  case  of  sur<!;ery  and 
j>un  shot  wounds  which  had  presented  itself  in  his  jiioiieer 
practioo. 

Ho  was  evidently  a  good  deal  flurried,  as  he  struck  into 
the  Woods  in  advance  of  his  guide,  to  endeavor  to  thread  his 
duhious  way  ;  and  he  was  fre(piently  heard  to  say,  aftci'- 
wards,  that  it  was  the  greatest  trial  his  nerves  had  ever 
endured. 

For    aught   he    knew  (and   in   the  circumstances  of  the 


case,   as    narrated   hy   th 
dd 


affrighted     |)ayton,  a    thing  (piile 
lead,    and   stilleiu'd    in 


prohalde  ),  his  patient  was  alreaily  i 
his  gore,  an  ohject  frightful  enough,  to  he  visited  alone,  hy 
hroatl  daylight;  how  much  more,  in  the  dim  light  of  any 
emhers  wiiicli  might  lie  left  in  that  lonely  house  in  the  woods. 

His  near  a|»proai'h  to  the  house,  which  he  after  awhile 
succeeded  in  linding,  did  not  alleviate  his  feelings  much  ;  for 
now,  the  ease  must  he  met.  whatever  may  he  its  developments. 
The  idi'a  of  stumhling  ovi'r  a  dead  man,  '  .  ids  elforts  to  strike 
a  light,  or  of  groping  ahout  the  room  in  search  of  a  mutilated 
human  heing,  was  all  his  nerves  w(juld  hear,  and  he  tremhled 
in  his  stirrups. 

He  however  grew  ashamed  of  his  fear,  and  after  listening 


'nri.'KK    MNK-s. 


■2\] 

lllissioii;   tllCl'C   WilS 


"";:':;;■■:'''?;■'' f'":'^- "•■■''■' - 

^ -K-.-..- .■■w'n,;.'^::,,  "''''"■  "'"'''■■  "■ 

doctor"     ■'U',i,          •                         ■"'^"'  tlic  yoiiiio- mail.    "TIk 
,  ,      ..  •     '"*    ■  """    "1    I'lo.ul.   an,     fl,„(    (;,..i; ■  • 


•;<'^'<lm^r|.n.(typrnCus,.|y.  in.  ha.l  flH.u-l 


•   ■•i'"l   lli;it    liiidiiio-    IiiiDscli' 


liiiiiscif 


Ml. 


«li<  It  I'l'iidi'iit  (()  la.si,. 


n.      ','  '"'"^■•■''.   <;•'"■"  — of  no   n.nninont   dan..,.,   ,f,„,  ,„ 

^- or  t.i..:;;;;;;;  •  ;  r;:;-- 


•pinion    that    he 


"    ■   '•'"'    ""'    '-'"'y    "■ ini."    ..f  „„■•     („„„ 


''-"•'(•I'lhinn-  a  ,> 


'■' »i'it™':::,:;tir.;:: 


•212 


THKKK    LINKS. 


prevent  the  iiij;ress  of  wolves  that  might  he  attracted  by  the 
smell  of  hlood,  while  Mr.  Dayton  was  after  the  doctor. 

1  know  it  is  .somewhat  ditficult  for  the  present  generation 
lo  comprehend  the  situation  of  peril  in  which  scattering 
families  were  ])laced  at  that  early  day.  or  that  there  was  any 
real  and  positive  danger  of  mou.^tation  by  the  wolves;  and 
therefore,  I  sliall  transcribe  another  incident,  in  the  tra- 
ditions of  early  man  and  early  times,  which  will  tend  to 
correct  any  doubts  upon  that  subject. 

The  late  Hon.  Jotham  Ives  was  among  the  early 
emigrants  into  this  town.  He  arrived  here  in  1801,  and 
located  his  home,  where  he  lived  to  amass  a  large  landed 
property,  and  whore  he  died,  recently,  near  the  place  culled 
Field  Settlement. 

Jn  the  fall  of  1802,  he  had  a  imnd)er  of  hogs  fattened, 
and  at  killing  time  he  employed  a  AFr.  Knowlton,  an  old, 
whit(>-haired  man  of  sixty  years  or  more,  who  was  somewhat 
skilled  in  butchering,  to  assist  him.  Knowlton  lived  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  Mr.  Ives,  in  the  near  neighbor- 
hood of  the  ))resent  residence  of  Mr.  James  Hrintnall,  where 
he  had  a  little  clearing,  or  what  was  perhaps  more  iij)- 
propriately  called,  in  backwoods  phrase,  a  choj)ping,  and 
which  was  surrounded  l)y  a  tem{)orary  brush  fence.  Hetween 
himself  and  Mr.  Ives  there  was  no  road;  and  nothing  but  a 
line  of  marked  trees  to  designate  the  little  footpath  which 
meandered  through  the  deep,  dark,  anil  in  many  places 
tangled  forest,  which  stretched  off  almost  interminal)ly  on 
either  hand. 

The  butchering  over,  and  su])j)er  disposed  of,  it  was 
agreed  that  there  was  time  to  cut  up  the  pork,  and  Mr. 
Knowlt'in  consented  to  stay  and  a.ssist  in  doing  so.  At  a  late 
hour,    the    whole    work     was    finally    completed,    and     Mr. 


THHKJ.;    USKs. 


2h1 


e.Kleavo,.  t„  folio.-  out  Lis  little  foot  n-.tl  J  '" 

-:t^::::;:n;;rt:^ 


214 


Tiii;i:i;   links. 


wild  liciiHls.  Hiiil  lie  soon  loiuul  liiinself  i|uick('iiiiiu'  liis  |iaco. 
while  cvci'  iiixl  aiioii  lie  iiistiiictivcly  cast  a  wistful  eye  over 
his  shoulder  and  into  the  recesses  of  the  thick  woods  on  eithei' 


hand 


It  was  not  lonji'.  however,  that  any  douhl  i'<'niained  ahout 
his  iieiiiii'  the  ohject  of  tlu'ir  pursuit,  as  his  (|uick  ear  detected 
till'  <;ailo|)in<i-  movement  of  a  trooj)  of  pattei'ino'  feet  on  Ids 
track,  and  it  was  hi'coniinfi'  more  and  more  a  (jUestion  of  in- 
terest with  him  how  the  chase  would  tcnninate. 

lie  hoped  when  hi'  rellected  that  he  was  nearinfi'  his  own 
hahitation  every  moment  and  his  ])ath  was  hecoiuin^-  plainer, 
and  he  was  aide  to  make  ln'tter  projifess.  Uut  the  odds  was 
with  them  for  they  were  li<ihter  of  foot  and  could  see  a  fii'cat 
deal  hetter  than  he  could  in  the  ^ilooni  of  the  foi'est,  hut,  more 
than  all,  they  were  so  many  antl  wcmv  mad  with  hunjii'r  and 
were  hecominy  more  and  more  des])erate  every  moment.  On, 
on,  on.  till'  old  man  strode  resolutely  and  with  a  strenjith  and 
speed  which  would  have  surprised  him  at  any  other  time, 
iven  hv  davliuht,  hut  which  seemed  slow  enouiih   now   in  the 


tlUH 


>f  hi 


s  e.xtri'niitv. 


Jl  he  could  hut  keep  them  at  hay  a  little  lon<ierand  until 
lie  could  clear  the  dark  woods  anil  get  the  henelit  of  the  com- 
paratively open  litiht  of  Ids  chop]>in<i',  or  lay  his  hand  upon  a 
sti'ong  hand  spike,  sled  stake  or  hillet  of  wood,  he  nduht  still 
hope  to  defend  him.sell"  successfully  or  esca|ie  from    their  hun- 


;rv  iaws.     Strainiu"'  everv    nerve 


he    I 


tounded   onward    with 


such  ability  as  only  des[)eration  and  love  of  life  allorded  ;  hut 
the  distance  hetween  him  and  his  pursuers  was  not  le.s,><ene(l 
hy  all  his  efforts,  and  hefore  he  reachetl  the  hrush  fence  that 
sui'roundeil  his  peaceful  home  he  felt  that  his  tiuu'  ha<l  nearly 
come,  when  he  bethought  himself  of  the  parting  advice  of  his 
friend  Ives. 


-■-■  'i— Wi^rir,  7;-7, 


'rnKj:K  i.ink-s. 


21  n 


..ni,'w:::;;:';;!:;:';;:::r";;:;i;"', ; '>• ■'-'- 

"...1  .ho  «lv..s  ,„..    „  Ik  ,      n    :  h'  "'"■'-'"  "!""  '■''■"'■'"'  ""■"■>■ 
the  ol,l,.„  ti.m.  "^'"■"'8  '"  ""■  '"""'•.V  of 


A  Bit  of  Topography. 


The  foregoing  ingenious  chart  was  prepared  by  Mr. 
Frederick  Campbell  of  Lowville,  an<l  was  accompanied  by  the 
following  interesting  data  : 

The  topograi.hv  of  the  country  traversed  between  Utica 
and  the  Thousand  Islands  is  to  most  people  entirely  unknown. 
The  grades  are  so  met  that  most  tourists  woul.l  be  quite  un- 
conscious that  there  were  any  marked  gra.les  at  all  ;  and  many 
would  exhibit  no  surprise  if  they  should  be  tohl  that  no  higher 
elevations  above  sea  level  are  met  between  Utic.v  and  the 
Thousand  Islands  than  between  New  York  and  Ltica  llic 
accompanying  cut,  which  I  have  carefully  prepared  from 
official  reports  will  ivveal  the  tacts. 

In  the  chart  each  space  represents  100  ieet  above  sea 
level-  the  irregular  line  thus  makes  graphic  the  elevations  of 
the  entire  route.  At  the  left  are  given  the  elevations  ot  a 
number  of  places  in  the  Tnite.!  States  with  which  the  eleva- 
tions of  places  (.11  the  Thousan.l  Island  route  may  he  compared. 
It  will  here  hv  seen  that  the  climb  from  New  York  to  L  tica 
is  insignificant :  there  is  a  rise  of  only  '^2  feet  in  passing  from 
New  York  to  Albany,  though  the  dintance  Ih  nearly  150  milea 


A    HIT    or    TUIMXIKAI'IIY.  'J  1  / 

And  at  2:?S  miles  iVoiii  New  York,  I'ticii  is  found  iit  iin  cicvii- 
tion  of  only  41(ir('t't  altovc  tlic  sea.  Mut  one  has  proceeded 
only  K)  miles  on  the  Home,  Watertf)\vn  and  ( );j,(lensl)urfi'  i-ail- 
road  (HIaek  iJiviT  division)  when  he  has  doubled  hiseli'vation. 
(Trenton.)  and  with  thirteen  miles  more  (Alder  Ci-eek)  has 
multiplied  it  hy  three.  While  the  summit  level  of  the  Mlack 
Hiver  canal  is  at  Moonville.  at  an  elevation  of  1,1 1!>  feet,  th(\ 
summit  of  tin-  lilaek  River  route  is  found  a  little  to  the  south 
of  .VIder  Creek,  the  latter  place  itself  hein^  1,'24.")  feet  aljove 
the  .soa.  From  tlait  point  it  is  a  steady  decline  to  Martinshurg 
.station,  the  descent  beinj^  particularly  swift  between  Boonville 
and  Port  Leyden,  the  passenfjer  bi'ing  able  to  note  it  by 
watchiuf;  the  locks  of  the  parallel  canal.  In  seven  miles  there 
is  a  <lrop  of  2:^")  feet,  the  first  three  miles  of  the  distance  takinjf 
14")  feet  of  the  drop.  From  Arartinsburjf  it  will  be  seen  that 
there  is  another  climb  to  Lowville,  S45  feet  elevation,  whence 
there  is  a  pi'aetically  continuous  down  f^rade  to  Clayton,  which, 
at  28'2  feet  elevation  is  but  little  more  than  half  that  of  I'tica. 
Heferi'inji'  to  the  comparative  lieures  on  the  left,  it  will  be 
<»bserved  that  the  elevation  of  I'tica  is  midway  between  that 
of  Hai-risburji,  Fa.,  and  Rochester,  old  and  olO  resi)ectively. 
Holland  Patent  stands  30  feet  hifiher  than  Chicajio.  Trenton 
is  much  hifiher  than  either  St.  Paul  or  Kansas  City,  and  but 
little  less  than  Topeka,  Kans.  Trenton  Falls  is  4")  feet  hij>her 
than  Farjro,  X.  I).,  Remsen  exceeds  the  celebrated  Altoona on 
the  Penn.sylvania  railroad  by  24  feet,  and  Alder  Creek  is  within 
oo  feet  of  being  as  high  as  Chautau(|ua  lake,  which  boasts  the 
highest  navigated  water  east  of  the  Rocky  mountain.*.  lioon- 
ville  is  100  feet  higher  than  Omaha,  Lowville  is  nearly  even 
with  Toiieka,  Carthage  witli  Kansas  City,  and  Clayton  with 
iSchenectady. 


The  French  Settlers. 

Tlu.  following.-  imiHT  is  iVom  the  pen  of  Mrs.  M.  L- 
WhitcluM- of  Whitcsbon.,  N.  v.: 

Thus,  wl.o  like  to  wa.xl.r  in  tl.o  l.,y-,.aths  ot  our  nation  « 

historv  will  rnnombcr  Iha,  at  a  very  ...ly  ,K.vi..l  <'fthe -v^  - 

tiouDr.    Franklin   luMn.u  sent    in    1777   as  aml.assa.lo.  to  tl 

^,.,„.„,  ...,„,   to  ,ain    tlu.  assistance   ..f  that   ^---n- 
,,n.vin,' on  our  war  with  England,  was  tenaere.1  ana  aeu.t    1 

luse^raviUaail'assy.   vent    ,Vee,   hy   ..s  ..wner  a  wealth> 
,,,nker.      Dr.  Frankli,>oeeu,.iea  the  villa  nnu.yc^vs 

Thi.  aet  of  u-enerous  h-.spitality  was  .lone  hy  Mon>  eu.  M. 
,  ..  Uav  .le  ClKunnont,  who  was  a  student  of  the  allan-s  o 
,,..,;,,,,n.,eolonies  an  1    deeply  interesteanUheeau^^^^^^^ 

,;,„„,,.  n.,,,vel.r.  Franklin  a  warn.  veee,,tH.n  an.  ...  K 
Auu.;ieane..nnuissi.nu.rs..,uU.ln..,lK..,...nly  r..HU.l  t- 
F,.en.•h  curt,  he  ptve  u,.  hiss..at  .n  the  nun.stry  hatle 
Uht  a..t  asint..rnu..lia,vh...w..enthe  An.er.eansan.l  lus..un 

"""'"'Ti!' iu'c^anu-  tlu.  fri..n.l  an.l  ,.atron.4-.he....lonistsan.lsent 
thenia  wh,.leear,.>  .>f  ,.ow.ler  with  instruetionsUuU^^^^^^^^^^ 
not  bo   paid   for   unlo^B  thoir  c.uh.    wub  wuu.      Wc    icceutiy 


1 


■:^i.^'^i'^:-- 


'L^^4cif/P^''^'^^"^  '^">C 


THE    KKKNCH    SETTLKRS. 


219 


learned  from  the  agent  of  the  Lc  Ray  estate  that  the  powder  so 
generously  furnished  had  not  been  paid  for.  The  cargo  con- 
sisted of  two  thousand  barrels.  From  his  own  purse  Af.  Le 
Ray  also  fitted  a  shij)  to  join  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and 
was  chosen  to  superintend  the  equipment  of  the  entire  squad- 
ron which  was  destined  to  cast  lustre  on  the  name  of  John 
Paul  Jones. 

M.  James  Donatius  Le  Ray,  the  banker's  eldest  son,  was 
at  this  time  completing  his  education,  studying  English  with 
his  father's  venerable  friend.   Dr.  Franklin.     He,  too,  became 
interested  in  American   affairs   and    visited  this  country  soon 
after  the  revolution,   bearing  letters  of  introduction  from  Dr. 
Franklin  to  Gouverneur  Morris,   DeWitt  Clinton  and  other 
prominent  men.     During  a  second  visit  he  bought  large  tracts 
of  land,  one  in  New  Jersey  and  another  in  Otsego  county,  this 
state,  for  which  Judge  Cooper,  father  of  the  novelist,  J.  Fenni- 
more  Cooper,  was  his  agent.      Hut  the  largest  of  his  jiurchases 
was  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  thou.sand  acres  of  land 
in  Jeffer.'^on  county,  the  most  of  which  was  bought  on  Jan.  3, 
ISO:^,   from   William   (Nonstable,  the  grandfather  of  the  late 
Hon.  Willianv  C.  Pierrepont  of  Pierrepont  Manor.     It  was  on 
tiiis  property  that   he   built   his   home.     A   hamlet  sprung  up 
around  his  grand  man.sion,  named   Le  Raysville,  as  the  town- 
shi|)  was  very  properly  called    Le  Ray.     The  homestead  site 
and  liandet  are   near   the  line  of  the   Utica  and  lilack  River 
railroad,    the    nearest    station,    I'elts    Mills,  Ijeing    (tnly   three 
miles  distant,      its  sob'  claim  to  public  notice,  asi<lt'  from  the 
air  of  historical  romance  still  clinging  to  it,  is  the  i)i('turesque 
l)eauty  of  its  scenery.     Tin*  original   dwelling   built  in  LSIO, 
was  burnefl  in  1S22.     This  was  replaced  by  a  mansion  which 
was  completed  in  1S27,  and  stands  on   the  original  site,  a  pla- 
teau often  acres,  from  which  tiie  ground   falls  away  on  every 


■ 


220 


THK    KRKNCH    SKTTl.EKS. 


side.      Its    walls   of  massivo   stone  arc   covered   with   stueco 
similar  to  that  which  adorns  the  White  House  at  Washinj^ton. 
The  house  is  two  stories  high,  with   wings  at  either  side  and  a 
large  hasement.      Four  largo  rooms  oceuj»y  each  floor,  the  front 
parlors  and  corresponding  rooms  above  being  octagon  in  form. 
One  of  the  wings   was   used   as  a   cluipel   and   the  other  for  a 
hbrary.       In    the    basement    were   the    stoi'erooms,    pantries, 
kitchen  and  wine  cellar.      The  lloor  of  the  last  mentioned  is  of 
stone,  while  all  around  the  .sides  were  shelves  so  arranged  with 
holes  that  the  wines,   ahvaj's  the  choicest   variety,    were  kept 
on  their  corks.     A  number  of  wine  casks  are  still  standing  in 
the  old  cellar  and  the  aroma,  which  is  even  at  this  time  plaiidy 
perceptible,  is  a  vivid  reminder  of  the  times  when  the  mansion 
was  widely  famous  for  its  fi'e(iuent  and   generous  hosiiitality. 
Among    the  many    distinguislietl    guests    entertained    at    the 
man.sion    were    (Jouvenieur    Morris,    (iovei'uor   Clinton    and 
President  Monroe,  who,  shortly  after  his  inauguration,  made  a 
tour  of  the  northern  frontier  to   ins])ect   the  military  fortifica- 
tions and  learn  their  strengtli  in  case  of  need.     Tlie  j)resident 
arrived  in  August,  1S17.   and    n-mained    for   si'veral  days,  the 
guest  of  M.  Li"  Ray.     The  president  woi'c  the  undress  uniform 
of  an  oHicer  of  till'    revolution — a   mililary   coat,  light  colored 
breeches  and  a  cocked  hat. 

In  the  gi'and  octagon  parlors  there  are  still  some  of  the 
massive  elegant  piiM-  tables,  with  their  plate  glass  backs  and 
carved  lions'  A'ct,  while  above  the  marble  mantels  are  the 
grand  old  mirrors  I'xtending  to  the  ceiling,  aial  at  either  side 
are  elegant  bronze  chandeliers,  which  supporte<l  large  clusters 
of  wax  candles.  Tlu'  walls  of  these  rocans  are  still  without 
spot  or  blemish  although  they  were  linished  in  1.S27.  To  one 
visitor,  at  least,  who  wouM  tell  the  story  of  their  hey-di'V  and 
their  desolation  llicrc  is  an  indescribable  charm  in  tlie.>^e — ' 


BBUMiMilMUfiM 


i 


THK     FRENCH     SKTTJ.KKS. 


221 


"  Rooms  of  luxiirv  and  state, 

That  old  iiiagnificouce  so  richly  I'uniished, 
With  cabinet  of  ancient  date 

xVnd  carvings  gilt  and  burnished." 
The  mansion  faces  the  forest.  On  its  left  was  the  deer 
park,  whei-e  tame  fawns  might  be  seen  (luietly  grazing,  while 
to  tlie  right  were  tlie  ample  gardens,  which  were  famous  for 
rare  fruits  and  choice  Mowers  and  vegetaljle.s,  imported  tVom 
France  or  furnished  fium  the  gardens  at  the  White  Iloase  in 
Washington,  their  only  .■superior  in  this  country. 

A  neat  l)ridge  with   white   latticed   railing  still  spans  the 
stream  that  runs  in  front  of  th(>  mansion  and  forms  an  attrac- 
tive feature  of  the  landscape  from  the  piazza,  where  the  massive 
Doric  columns  extend  to  the  roof     "  Where  once  the  garden 
smiled  "  is  now  a   field  of  wheat.     I'he  old  garden  walks  can 
now  only  be  traced  by  sonn'  lilac  or  sturdy  rose.  The  beautiful 
grave  beside  the  garden    is  still   standing  and   through  it  the 
old  path  leads  to  the  waterfall  and  the  ruins  of  what  was  once 
a  pretty  alcove.     Ol  the  many  arbors,  rustic  I)owers  and  sum- 
mer   houses    which    were  arranged    so    invitingly    about    the 
grounds,  only  one  remains,  flic  spy-house,  an  octagon  structure, 
neatly  plastered  and  painted.     This  cozy  retreat  was  furnished 
with  books,  j)apers  ami  a  spy-glass,    witli    which  the  members 
of  the  household  could  amuse  themselves  with    watching   the 
niovementsi.f  the  villagers.      P.etween    the   spy-he )u.se  a n'^1  the 
village  was  an  artificial  pond  formed  by  damming  the  stream 
which  murmured  through  the  ground  at  the  waterfall  only  to 
appear  again  near  the  mansion.      The  slu>et  of  water  is  called 
St.  James'  lake,      it  was  stocked  with  speckled  trout  and  [)ro- 
vi(led  with  pleasure  boats.   It  still  furnishes  the  young  villagers 
a  line  boating  place. 

The  waterfall  is  a  place  of  wild,  romantic  beaulv.     The 


H 


222 


THE     FRENCH     SETTLERS. 


waters  of  the  stream  which  murmurs  through  the  grove  here 
plunge  down  a  deep,  rocky  chasm  and  disapi)ear  from  sight. 
At  the  foot  of  the  chasm  is  a  small  cave  where  the  sunshine 
never  enters,  but  above  and  around  it  wild  flowers  bloom 
profusely.  The  air  seems  always  tilled  with  the  music  of  .song 
birds,  odors  of  wild  flowers  and  the  soft  splashing  of  the  falling 
water.     It  seems  like  enchanted  ground. 

In  the  grove  near  the  fall  is  the  tomb  of  a  little  child.    It 
is  covered  by  a  slab  of  gray  marble  and  upon  an  upright 
stone  one  may  redd  :     "  Here  lies  Clotilde  de  Gouvello,  died 
Sept.  20,  1818.   She  was  endeared  to  her  i»arents  and  tenderly 
loved  by  all  who  watched  her  thirteen  months  of  patient  suf- 
fering life.     Strew  flowers  upon  her  grave,  but  weep  not,  for 
she  numbers  with  angels  in   Heaven."     This  little  one  was 
the  grandchild  of  M.  LeKay  and  was  the  only  one   of  the 
family  who  was  buried  in  America.     She  was  bajjtized  in  the 
grove   not  far  from    her  last  quiet  resting   place.     A   huge 
boulder,  which  presented  a  large  flat  surface  about  four  feet 
from  the  ground,  was,  with  candles,  crucifix   and  fair  linen, 
transformed  into  an  altar.  A  large  branch  of  a  tall  oak  spread 
out  protectingly  as  a  canopy  over  it,  and  near  the  end  of  the 
limb  two  of  its  smaller  branches  suggested   the  antlers  f)f  a 
deer.     Artistic  carving  of  the  end  of  the   limb  completed  a 
close  resemblance  to  a  deer's  head.     At  its  neck  was  hung  a 
bell    which  could  be  rung  from  the  ground  by  means  of  a 
nicely  adjusted  rope  and   puUey.     On  a  j»leasant  afterncon  in 
August,   1.S17,  at  a  given  hour,  the  bell   was  rnng,  and  tlie 
family,    accompanied    by    servants,     sponsors     and     priest, 
marched  in  quiet  procession  to  the  appointed  place.     When 
the  solemn  sacrament  of  baf)tism   had    been   a(bninistered   to 
the  child  the  l)arty  returned  to  the  mansion  wln-re  a  l)a2)tismal 
feast  had  been  prepared,  and  gifts,  to  commeu'.orate  the  event, 


itgum^mmm^iiiummiimm-\ 


THE    I'ltKXClI    SETTLKKS.  223 

Were  distributed  to  all  tlio  retainers  of  the  household.     The 
mother  of  this  child  was  Therese,  only  daughter  of  M.  LeRay 
She  had  remained  in   France,  where  she  became  engaged  in 
marriage  to  the  Marquis  De  Gouvello.     Her  father  had  been 
sent  for  to  assist  in  drawing  up  the  marriage  settlements  and 
when    tliat    important    document    was    read    the   daughter 
demanded  a  change,  providing  that,  in  case  of  divorce    her 
portion  of  her  husband's  estate  should  be  doubled.    Her  father 
remonstrated,    declaring  that  God,  who  ordained    marriage 
designed  the  union  to  be  perpetual,  and   would  not  bless  a 
hond  accepted  by  the  lips  when  the  heart  harbored   thoughts 
of  Its  severance.     The  marriage  was  therefore  postponed  until 
the  judgment  of  the  daughter  harmonized  with  that  of  her 
father.     It  was  in  honor  of  this  daughter  that  the  town  of 
Theresa  was  named,  as  Cape  A'incent  was  named  for  his  son 
\  incent,  Alexandria   Bay  for  his  son  Alexander,  Juhelville 
(  now  a  part  of  ^\^ltertown  )  for  his  mother-in-law,  and  Plessis 
was  named  for  his  dog. 

In  his  religion,  M.  Le  Kay  was  a  devout  Catholic,  yet 
liberal  in  his  .sjiiritual  as  he  was  generous  in  his  material 
things.  Thi.s  was  shown  in  his  gifts  of  land  and  building 
materials  for  the  building  of  churches  of  any  denomination, 
lie  also  contributed  freely  for  the  establishment  of  schools. 
In  fact  in  all  of  his  aHairs  he  used  very  liberal  measures. 

He  sent  agents  to  France  and  other  countries,  circulated 
pamphlets  and  sought  to  induce  those  who  had  been  neigh- 
bors in  the  old  world  to  unite  in  settling  the  new  He 
l.rought  gentlemen  of  education  and  abilitv  to  superintend 
the  establishing  of  mills  and  factories  which  he  provided  a', 
the  wants  of  the  settlers  reciuired.  These  gentlemen  brought 
with  them  not  only  the  arts  and  industries  of  the  higher 
civilization  of  tlieir  old  home,  but  somewhat  more  of  the  idea 


i 


224 


TIIK     I'KKN'CII     SKTTI.KKS. 


oi"  soc'iiil  rank  and  dijijiiity  of  ])o.sition  tliiit  was  used  in  lu-w 
A  jiuM'ican  s('ttli'iiu'iit.s,  in  the  northern  states  at  least.  For, 
•ilt'iouj^li  tlie  family  and  all  their  household  were  eourteous 
ii":l  (•■>!M'iiiatory,  this  did  not  hridj^je  over  the  great  social  jiulf 
iaiNi-eii  them  and  their  neif^hhors,  and  when  the  great  family 
carri;i,>,i'  howled    throunh    the    village    the    housekee|iers    left 


ll  "ir  h; 


Tl 


lese  i   ■()  IK 


•    ind  ehurning   to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  passing 
■  I.     ■  'ri"'re's    such     divinity    doth    hedge   a    king." 
::'<tied  a  denial  to  that  pofjular  fallacy  "  that 


all  men  are  cicated  e(|Ual." 

Prominent  among  the  distinguished  French  gentlemen 
who  purcliased  land  of  M.  Le  Kay  was  .lo,<eph  lionaparte.  ex- 
king  of  Spain.      After  the  defeat  at  Waterloo  in  ISl"),  Jo.seph, 


reahzmg 


that 


riches   liave   wnigs, 


tll'ered    M.  i.c  Kav.  who 


was  then  in  France  (  where  he  had  heen  sent  to  .settle  some 
accounts  hetween  that  government  and  the  I'nited  States,) 
several  wagon  loads  of  silver  foi- an  uncertain   amount  of  his 


encan   tei'ritorv, 


liere    Wert'    no  sur\'evs  o 


r  title    deeds 


Am 

agreed  u|)(tn,  as  the  Bonapartes  were  in  great  haste   to  get  out 


of  France  and   then 


wa,> 


little  time    for    details. 


iitolcon 


promised  to  meet  liis  hrother  in  this  country  and  there  is  no 
douht,  that  had  the  emperoi'  heen  allowed  to  select  his  own 
line  of  travel,  he  would  have  prefei'red  to  live  with  his 
marshals  and  generals  on  our  northei'n  frontier  to  the  lonely 
isle  of  St.   Helena. 

Joseph  Bonaparte  matle  a  purchase  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousainl  acri's  in  .led'erson  and  Lewis  counties.  A 
heautiful  lake  on  the  edge  of  the  North  Woods  is  still  called 
IJonapai'te  Lake.  In  extent  it  is  more  than  a  thousand  acres; 
it  is  dotti'd  with  pictures<iue  i.slands,  and  heing  i'vd  wholly  hy 
suhterranean  streams  its  waters  have  a   wonderful   clearness, 


TiiK    I'ki;n('ii    skiti,i;i!s. 


225 


such    as  has    made  Loohes  Lomond  and  Katrine  famous  in 
Scottish  history. 

At  a  place  on   Indian   i-ivcr  about  nine  miles  from  the 
vdlage  of  Carthage,  the  waters  (low  under  a    rock  of  white 
hmestone,  and  at  this  point,  calle.l  Natural  Mridge,   Joseph 
Bonaparte  built  a  house  in  1829,  which  is  still  standing.    The 
brulge  on   the  upper  side  is  nearly   as  smootli   as  masonry 
while  beneath,  the  waters  luue  worn  <lee].  grottoes  where  one 
may  walk  upright  into  the  rocky  recesses  until    he  finds  him- 
self groping  into  darkness.     This  locality  rewards  the  seeker 
of  specnnens  of  rocks  and  minerals.     The  near-by  iionaparte 
hou,se  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  an   old-fashioned  meeting 
hou.se  without  belfry  or  steeple.     It  is  now  a   tenement,  but 
Its  occupants  still  take   pri.le  in  showing  its  oddities  to  the 
curious  yisitors  and  in   furnishing   their  own   admiring  com- 
mentary ui)on  tlie   former  owner,  the  count,  as  they  call  the 
ex-kmg  of  Spain.     His  green  velyet  hunting  suits,  free  ex- 
penditure of  money,  conciliating  manner  and  his  bullet-proof 
sUieping  chamber  are   fruitful   toj.ics  for  conyersation.     The 
Count  de  Surveillers  spent  four  .summers  on  his  American 
estate.     He  was  accompanied  by  a  retinue  of  followers  and 
had  as  his  guests  many  <listinguished  French   generals,  exiles 
like  himself.     Their  baiuiuets  seryi^d  on   golden   dishes   were 
characteri/.e<l  by  all  the  i.om{,  and  precision  of  court  eti(iuette 
Some   of   these   noble   guests   became   colonists   for   a   time 
Among   them    were  Count   Real,  who  was  Napoleon's  chief 
prefect   of  police,  the   Due   de    Vincennes,  a   philosopher  of 
eminence;  M.  rMgeon,  an   astronomer  who  brought  some  of 
the  finest  instruments  known  to  the  age,  to  Cape   \'incent  • 
Marshal   (}rouchy,  to  whose  too  imi.licit  obedience  of  orders 
historians  attribute  the  defeat  at  Waterloo,  and  other  Napole- 
onic  adherents     who    joined    in    building    a    hou.se    for    the 


220 


THK     I'RKNCH     SICTTLKHH. 


emperor's  occupiition  when  he  should  escape  from  St.  Ileleiiii. 

Another  member  of  tlie  lionaparte  family,  Na])oleon  Louis 
Lucieu  Murat.  likewise  hceaine  a  resident  of  Jelferson  eounty. 
Ho  was  a  son  of  the  hrilliant  (leneral  Murat,  Napoleon's  great- 
est cavalry  oftieei'  (whom  lie  made  kinji;  of  the  two  Sicilies)  and 
of  Caroline,  sister  of  the  tirst  consul.  Tiieson  remained,  foi-  a 
while  after  Waterloo,  with  his  mother  in  Sj)ain,  until  the 
Bourbons  n^ade  his  residence  there  too  uncomfortable. 
He  then  joined  the  continjj;ent  of  refuj;ees  and  bought  a  tract 
of  land  on  Indian  river  near  Theresa,  where  he  opened  a  store, 
built  saw  mills  and  grist  mills,  and  fancied  he  had  founded  a 
city,  which  he  called  Joachim  in  honor  of  his  father.  Me  was 
a  gay  and  volatile  young  fellow,  and  though  the  fortunes  of 
his  family  and  of  his  country  were,  at  that  time,  grave  enough 
to  fill  a  thoughtful  mind  with  apprehensions,  beseemed  intent 
upon  making  life  a  holiday.  His  store,  instead  of  being 
stocked  with  corduroy  and  jeans,  which  were  needed  by  the 
settlers,  was  decked  out  with  artificial  Howers  and  French 
millinery,  and  at  his  fantastic  entertainments  metamorphosed 
the  farmers'  daughters,  the  only  young  women  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, into  Cinderellas  clothed  with  delicate  silks  which  he 
imported  and  distributed  freely  among  the  maids  of  tlie  Dutch 
settlement.  Among  the  luxuries  which  the  young  prince 
brought  from  France  was  a  grand  {)iano,  which  was  preserved 
only  to  be  burned  in  the  very  disastrous  fire  which  visited  the 
village  of  ("arthage  in  18S1.  Its  antifjue  pattern  showed  the  legs 
connected  at  either  end  by  an  elaborately  carved  harp  and 
braced  by  a  long  bar  of  solid  mahogany,  also  carved,  which 
united  the  ends  as  old  fashioned  chairs  were  strengthened  by 
a  rung  extending  acro.ss  the  middle.  The  piano  rested  upon 
carved  lions'  feet  while  at  each  end  were  drawers  for  music. 

Nothing  now  remains  of  Joachim,  a  city  "  whose  glory 


I 

I 

it 


■•» 


i 


THE    FRENCH    SETTLERS, 


227 


1 


passed  away  wliile  yet  it  never  was."  The  name,  however, 
still  clings  to  a  bridge  and  dam  which  were  built  when  the 
city  was  planned. 

The  prince  married  an  American  woman  who,  when 
their  last  shred  of  fortune  had  vanished,  opened  a  boarding 
scliool  under  the  untitled  name  of  Madam  Murat.  The  writer 
of  a  sensational  article  which  appeared  in  I'utnam's  Magazine 
in  1853  under  the  caption  "  Have  We  a  Bourbon  Among  us?  " 
attempted  to  foist  upon  the  world  a  marvelous  tale  stating 
that  the  well  beloved  preacher  to  the  Indians,  the  Rev.  Eleazur 
Williams,  was,  in  reality,  the  young  dnuphin  son  of  Louis  XVI 
and  Marie  Antoinette  and  that  M.  Le  Ray  de  Chaumont  was 
the  agent  of  his  rescue,  escape  and  preservation  in  the  safe 
solitudes  of  Northern  Now  York.  M.  Vincent  I.e  Ray  indig- 
nantly denied  the  charge  and  gave  the  denial  all  the  publicity 
that  print  and  painstaking  distribution  could  provide. 
Lamartine  states  that  the  miracle  of  silence  over  his  escape 
would  be  greater  than  his  miraculous  escape  itself. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  name  so  worthy  of  remem- 
brance as  is  tliat  of  Le  Ray  should  be  omitted  from  the  })ages 
of  history.  In  a  life  of  Dr.  Franklin,  which  has  been  recently 
published,  the  story  of  M.  Le  Ray's  hospitality  to  him  is 
pleasantly  told  ;  there  also  i\pj)ears  a  picture  of  the  senior  Le 
Ray  and  a  picture  of  the  house  occupied  by  Dr.  Franklin 
during  his  nine  years'  residence  in  France.  The  building 
is  still  pointed  out  to  tourists  as  the  Franklin  house. 

M.  Le  Ray  and  his  family  left  America  and  returned  to 
France  in  June,  ISSO.  -  He  died  in  December,  1840,  aged  SO 
years,  leaving  three  children  and  two  sisters.  Alexander,  his 
youngest  son,  fell  in  a  duel  in  Texas  in  1844.  Theresa, 
Countess  de  (rouvello,  died  in  1853,  leaving  one  son  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1881,  having  been  invited   by  this  govern- 


22S 


Tin;     l-KllNCII     iSKTTLKlSS. 


inent  to  represent  tlie  Lc  Ray  family  at  the  centennial 
celebration  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  Before 
returning  he  visited  the  old  home  in  Jefferson  county.  \'in- 
cent  L(!  liny,  who  succeeded  to  his  father's  estate  in  1825,  was 
a  methodical  business  man,  and  though  strictly  honorable,  he 
possessed  none  of  the  liberal  qualities  of  his  father.  He  died 
in  188(),  leaving  one  son,  Charles,  Marques  de  Ht.  Paul,  a 
childless  man  with  whose  death  the  historic  name  will  prob- 
ably cease. 


V 


p 

r 


\: 


if 

r 


Two  Old -Fashioned  Boys. 

lieu  and  Joby  Collins  wore  coasting  ono  Saturday  lialf- 
lioliday  on  a  sled  with  bent  runners.  Ben  was  the  elder  and 
the  more  serious.  Joby  was  more  athletic,  ((uicker  of  percep- 
tion, and  slow  to  believe  what  he  could  not  see  with  his  own 
eyes  and  instantly  comprehend.  What  Hen  lacked  in  the 
perceptive  organs  he  fully  made  up  in  the  reflective.  Conse- 
quently he  was  slow,  in  fact,  clumsy,  and  Joby  was  constant- 
ly getting  the  "start  "  of  him  in  their  boyish  divertisements. 
Ben's  ea.sy  temj)erament  was  the  means  of  avoiding  friction 
over  Joby's  little  victories.  They  usually  agreed  excej)t  upon 
scientific  matters  in  which  Ben,  having  a  thirst  for  knowledge, 
was  greatly  interested.  His  rehash  of  natural  philo.^ophy  was 
wholly  lost  upon  Joby  who  was  skeptical  and  at  times  i)ored 
by  his  brother's  di.scussion  of  theoretical  and  applied  science 
which  he  found  in  an  old  volume  borrowed  from  a  neighbor 
who  once  lived  in  Boston. 


^hon 


'Let's  take  one  more   slide  and   the 
nid 


n   go  home,  do   the 
•es  and   get  ready   for  the  show,  "  suggested   Ben,   wlu 


though  slow,  was  really  the  leading  spirit  in  the  enterprises  of 
the  Boy's  Own  Kingdom. 

"  What  is  the  show,  Ben,  "  inquired  the  other. 


230 


TWO    Ol,l)-rASllIUNl<:i)    liO\!i. 


"  Why.  Ilu'  tMllyj,M-iii»li  !  The  tiling'  that  talks  ovor  twi'il- 
tv  miles  of  wire,  Tiic  showmou  como  to  paw  for  to  got  tho 
Hchoolhousc  to  ^'ivo  the  show  in.  " 

"Tliat's  iiawthin,  "  nnswcrt'd  Johy,  its  just  as  easy  to 
talk  over  a  coil  of  wire  as  over  a   hatulslcd.     (let  on — its   my 

st('('V-  " 

"  Mut  thr  wiro  is  stnitcht'd  uway  milos  ami  miloson  polos 

and  they  talk  to  another  feller  at  the  othor " 

Furtl'.er  explanation  was  ])r(Hduded  by  the  speed  of  <lie 
sled  down  tiie  lonf>'  sh)|te  which  dropped   them  gently   '  o 

ice  whieli  covered  I, a  Famine  and  the  lake   as   far  as  t. 
could  reach. 

"  Now,  once  more  and  I'll  steer, "  urged  lien  when  they 
had  shot  far  out  on  the  ice. 

They  returned  to  the  top  of  the  hill  and  made  a.  fresh 
.start,  Hen  lying  down  and  making  a  rudder  of  a  new  copper- 
toed  boot,  The  course  made  a  sharp  turn  through  an  open 
gate  tlanked  by  a  rail  fence. 

Ben  steered  too  much  and  the  sled  began  to  waver  in  its 
course. 

Look  out!  "  warned  Job,  and  then  flung  himself  off  into 
the  snow  whither  he  emerged  half  suffocated  to  find  the  sled 
high  and  dry  in  the  rail  fence  and  poor  Ben  screeching  with 
pain.  It  was  characteristic  of  Ben's  lack  of  skill  that  he 
should  slam  into  the  fence. 

"  Oh  !  my  leg,  my  leg !  It's  broke,  Joby.  Draw  me 
home  on  the  sled.     I — feel — so — sick.  " 

Joby  was  frightened,  but  as  he  did  things  without  ever 
thinking  he  very  ([uickly  mended  the  wrecked  sled  with  cord 
and  then  all  but  finished  Ben  in  rolling  him  onto  it.  He  drew 
his  injured  brother  to  the  house  and  made  such  a  hullabaloo 
for  help  that  his  affrighted  parents  ran  to  meet  him  and  as- 


TWO   OM)-KASIII()NKD    BOVs. 


281 


f 


sist  the  suffbriii^'  boy  to  n  trundle  bed  vvhicli  vvns  hauled  from 
under  the  bed  in  the  recess. 

A  neighbor  was  .sent  on  liorHcback  for  a  doctor,  sixteen 
miles  distant,  and  grnndinother  put  a  buneh  of  i.ennvroyal 
steeping  because  as  she  said  "  if  a  sweat  did  him  no  good  it 
would  do  no  harm,  "  albeit  the  victim  of  the  accident  was  in 
such  pain  as  to  cause  the  perspiration  to  moisten  his  whole 
body. 

The  doctor  arrived  the  next  day  and  found  the  limb  al- 
ready set  and  bound  in  splints  of  bark,  a  very  creditable  job, 
he  called  it,  and  loft  instructions  for  poor  Ben  to  keep  the  bed 
for  three  weeks,  when  he  would  return  and  examine  the  limb 
to  determine  th(    iiccess  of  the  process  of  healing. 

Now,  be  it  remembered  that  the  C^ollins-es  were  a  social 
people  and  their  home  was  the  resort  of  neighbors  for  miles 
around.  Jfank  Collins  was  a  popular  man,  though  not 
strong-minded,  and  while  he  entertained  some  political  pres- 
tige he  was  not  a  leader,  but  a  man  whose  good  gn.ces  were 
sought  by  would-be  leaders.  Hence  his  sayings  were  quoted 
as  from  an  authority,  and  he  was  brought  into  intercourse 
with  the  scattering  neighbors  more  frequently  than  any  other 
one  of  them.  Moreover  lie  was  a  subscriber  to  a  weeklv  pai)er 
published  in  Ttica. 

Ben  always  heard  what  was  .said  by  elders  in  nis  presence, 
and  pondered  much  over  their  discussions  which  he  insisted 
upon  retailing  to  young  .Job  who  did  not  always  exhibit  the 
characteristic  of  his  more  ]>atient  namesake. 

•lob  went  to  the  schoolhou.se  in  the  evening,  and  fo-  a 
sixpence  saw  the  new  telegraph  exhibited.  Jle  explained  the 
instrument  to  Ben  in  the  following  not  very  lucid  terms: 

"  The  show  didn't  mount  to  nawthink  !  The  feller  set  up 
a  jigger-jabber  on  the  girls'  side  and  another  on  our  side,  and 


2,S2 


TWO    ()I,f)-I  ASHIOXKD    BOYS. 


run  out  sonio  wire  aloup;  a  fence  and  the  trees  and  brung  it 
back  into  another  wincK-r  and  hitc'vd  it  to  another  jigger. 
Then  lie  stuck  a  wire  (h)wn  a  knot-hole  in  the  floor,  and  some 
more  wires  into  some  dishes  he  called  a  bai+er.  Then  he  jig- 
gered one  machine  and  the  other  jiggered  just  like  it  and  the 
two  just  jigger-jabbered  and  there  wan't  nobody  anigh  to  it. 
He  had  a  paper  ribband  wound  on  a  wheel  and  a  dock  thing 
run  down  and  made  some  marks  on  the  ribband  just  like  the 
marks  he  made  on  the  blackboard.  Then  he  read  the  pin 
scratches  on  tlie  ribband  out  loud  and  said  it  said  'In  (Jod  we 
trust.'  I  hearn  Mr.  ]\hirceau  say  it  was  all  a  humbug  and  we 
was  all  fooled.  Paw,  \w  says  there  is  somethink  in  it,  but 
he  don't  know  what.  Some  say  there  is  and  some  say  he's  a 
vanphilist  and  made  the  click-clack  on  tother  jigger  with  his 
mouth.  You  ain't  mist  anythink  and  I  haint  seen  anythink. 
Wusht  Tde  a  sa\'ed  mj*  sixpence  for  a  lunik  of  gingtr  bread 
next  Fourth  July."  After  the  recital  Job  was  plied  with  so 
many  questions  that  the  last  were  vaguely  answered  in  his 
sleep.  His  ideas  of  the  machine  wei\  perhaps  as  clear  as 
those  of  most  of  the  adults  who  had  been  attracted  to  the  ex- 
hibition. 

Poor  lion  !  All  his  life  he  had  wanted  to  see  .something 
and  now  his  pain  must  be  borne  with  a<lditional  grief  because 
deprived  of  seeing  an  exhibition  of  electric  science.  His  feel- 
ings upon  this  subject  were  not  relieved  on  hearing  the 
discussions  of  the  exhibit  which  occurred  almost  daily  among 
the.  neighbors  who  called  to  sympathize  with  Hen  and  borrow 
the  newspaper. 

During  his  imprisonment  he  heanl  much  talk  of  the 
election  of  governor,  and  Hunkers,  Harn  Burners,  FreeSoilers 
and  jSIudsills,  as  well  as  Anti-Masons.  He  was  well  awiiic 
that  his  father  was  not  in  sympatlu'  with  the  latter  as  he  had 


TWO    OLD-FASHIONED    HOYS. 


283 


[■ 


heard  a  heated  debate  between  him  and  Bone  AFarceai,  the 
latter  alleging  that  he  did  not  want  to  belong  to  a  party  of 
murderers  or  have  them  getinto  power  to  secretly  kill  off  their 
enemies  at  will  and  leave  the  world  to  wonder  who  did  it. 

"  But  Free  Masonry  does  not  encourage  that  sort  of  thing 
any  more  than  does  the  Church  of  England,"  protested  Mr 
Collins. 

"  You  tell  me  that !  You  know  as  well  as  [  they  killed 
Morgan,  threw  him  into  Niagara  river  an.l  tlien  oi^e  night 
buried  him  in  three  graves.  You  know  that  hundreds  of 
other  unaccountal)le  murders  have  been  committed  in  the 
same  mysterious  way.  Do  you  want  a  government  of  mur- 
derers  ?  " 

"No,  I  do  not.  But  I  do  not  like  to  see  my— a  party 
called  murderers  without  the  proof.  A  man  is  inni^cent  until 
he  IS  proven  guilty." 

Marceau  was  a  pronounced  Anti  and  no  amount  ot  argu- 
ment would  convince  him  that  a  Free  Mason  was  not  a  dis- 
guised murderer.  So  it  was  agreed  that  the  matter  should 
not  be  further  discus.sed. 

About  ten  days  after  this  discussion  Ben  sat  upon  his 
trundle-bed,  which  was  far  too  small,in  the  house  alone.    Job 
who  had  become  more  and  more  of  a  companion  during  Ben'.s 
stay  in  doors,  ran  in  all  out  of  breath. 

"Say,  Ben,  its  too  durn  bad  !  Can't  vou  walk?  Try  it 
I've  just  found  some  of  the  queerest  things^n  the  straw  stack" 
bilvcr'n  gold  things  .'  " 

Ben's  curiosity  was  fully  arouse* I,  besides  he  ha<l  been 
shut  up  ten  days  and  was  like  a  caged  bir.l  once  free. 

"I  bleeve  I  can  hobble  out  there  aii<l  back  befoiv  any- 
body comes.  I  just  hopped  to  the  door  and  back  just  to  see 
II  1  could  move.  " 


234 


TWO    OLD-FASHIOXFD    BOYS. 


"  In  course  you  can,  "  vouched  the  excited  Job.  "Ten 
«h»ys  is  time  enough  to  heal  a  horse's  leg.  Jlere,  take  gramp's 
cane  and  the  tongs.     I'll  help.  " 

Slowly  and  in  fear  Hen  started  on  the  short  journey  and 
with  Job's  encouragement  he  reached  the  stack  much  to  his 
surprise  without  any  special  .suffering.  Once  there  Job  began 
throwing  the  straw,  which  had  been  thrashed  with  i  Hail, 
aside  with  a  fork  made  of  the  crotch  of  a  hickory  stick. 

"What's  this?"  holding  up  a  })air  of  crossed  (juills. 
"  And  here  is  a  coo{)er's  compass  stuck  on  a  square  and  look 
at  these  great  keys  !  Here's  pole  hooks  and  a  big  letter  G, 
and  a  Bibk> — would  a  thief  steal  a  Bil)le,  Bon?" 

"Well  how  do  you  know  any  of  it's  stole,  "  in<|uired  Ben. 

"How  else  could  it  get  into  the  .straw,  then,"  queried  Job 
in  turn. 

"Well,  I  don't  say  as  how  it  was  stole,  but  I  just  believe 
its  a  Free  Mason's " 

Job  dropped  the  keys  with  an  exclamation  of  horror. 

"Do  you  suppose  tliis  is  what  they  kill  folks  with?" 

Ben  wasn't  sure,  but  at  his  suggestion  the  discovery  was 
again  secreted  in  the  straw  and  the  boys  returned  to  the  house 
in  alarm  lest  they  should  meet  the  fate  of  Morgan  before  the 
I'eturn  of  their  parents.  And  Ben  began  to  feel  tliat  jterliaps 
he  miglit  sutler  great  injury  from  deserting  his  l)ed  before  he 
had  permission. 

When  the  pai'ents  returned  the  boys  related  tlie  news  of 
their  wonderful  find  to  their  mother,  jind  she  in  turn  told 
their  fatiiei'.  lie  seemed  surprised  and  a  little  frustrated, 
tlien  sternly  l)ade  them  not  to  siiy  a  word  t<i  a  sotil  about  the 
matter. 

Next  forenoon  .lob  plucked  u[)  <'ouragi:  enough  to  again 
I'emove  the  straw  so  as  to  gel  another  look   at   the  strange 


f* 


& 


I 


I 


'  (iO   IN   JUST   ONC'K  MOKE.  " 


TWO    OLD-FASHIONED    BOYS. 


235 


objects.  He  threw  out  a  great  lot  of  the  straw  and  declared 
he  didn't  suppose  he  had  buried  it  so  deep.  After  an  extra 
effort  he  came  down  to  solid  straw  which  had  not  been  dis- 
turbed. Not  until  then  did  it  occur  to  him  that  the  wonder- 
ful things  he  had  seen  and  handled  had  gone  just  as  myster- 
iously as  they  had  appeared.  When  he  made  report  of  the 
equally  strange  disappearance  to  his  father,  that  worthy 
laconically  dismissed  the  subject  with  an  imperative : 

"Shut  up!" 

It  was  but  a  few  days  after  Job's  discovery  that  the  doc- 
tor, with  mysterious  saddle  bags,  returned  to  visit  his  patient, 
only  to  find  him  knocking  about  with  his  injured  limb  lashed 
to  a  barrel  stave,  the  convex  surface  fitting  under  the  knte 
ver^'  comfortably.  To  the  neighbors  the  boy's  leaving  his  bed 
a  week  before  the  date  fixed  by  the  doctor  was  a  triumph  of 
their  inherent  opposition  to  professional  science. 

"  But  what  could  you  expect,  "  remarked  Ben's  mother, 
"  what  could  you  expect  from  a  doctor  who  has  a  mustache?  " 

It  was  agreed  that  a  man  so  dandified  as  to  grow  a  mus- 
tache could  not  be  very  smart  to  say  nothing  of  professional 
knowledge.  As  for  Ben,  he  was  too  anxious  to  get  away  to  his 
accustomed  outdoor  pastitr.LS  to  debate  the  question  of  the 
knitting  of  the  bones  between  the  doctor's  skill  and  the  awful 
doses  of  jala}),  boneset  tea  and  calomel  administered  by  his 
anxious  grandmother  who  had  a  Thomnonian  specific  in  every 
weed  in  the  forest. 

"  I'm  just  death  on  the  fever,  "  she  v?oul<l  say,  "  and  gin 
me  a  plenty  of  fever-weed  and  pennyroyal,  and  keep  them 
from  a  filling  themselves  with  water  and  I'll  warn  you  they'll 
come  out  all  right  unless  it  happens  as  it  did  with  Huldy 
Dobbins,  she  that  was  a  Purse.  She  was  outen  her  head  and 
once    when    she  didn't  know   what  she   was  about  and  the 


236 


TWO    OLD-KASlnONKI)    liOYS. 


watchers  was  asleep  she  just  went  to  the  si»ring  and  drank 
and  drank.  I  took  care  of  her  myself  arter  that  and  she  was 
right  sick  for  a  fortniglit,  hut  she  didn't  get  another  drop  of 
water  you  may  depend.  " 

The  old  lady  drew  a  day  pipe  from  the  ashes  where  it 
had  been  placed  to  burn  it  out,  and  filling  it  smoked  com- 
placently in  silence.  Ah  !  Could  a  machine  for  recording 
thought  be  had  what  a  world  of  reminiscence  could  have  been 
rescued  from  oblivion  as  the  dear  old  lady  smoked  and 
dreamed  of  her  days  of  activity  "  down  at  old  Glosster." 

Some  hardships  befell  the  early  settlers  on  this  fertile 
point,  and  among  the  most  annoying  little  things  was  losing 
the  fire.  jMi*s.  Collins  was  attending  a  sick  neighbor  ;  her 
hus'uand  had  gone  to  the  Harbor  with  a  grist  drawn  by  a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  the  trip  would  require  two  days.  The  boys  and 
their  grandmother  were  left  alone  and  such  a  bustling  pre|)a ra- 
tion for  dinner  had  not  stirred  up  tlie  but-and-ben  of  a  house 
since  last  Thanksgiving,  when  the  occasion  was  made 
memorable  by  the  rescue  of  four  half-drowned  .settlers  who 
had  been  cast  upon  the  shore  in  the  night  and  brought  back 
to  life  in  the  hospitable  cheer  of  the  Collins  fireplace. 

The  old  lady  was  intent  upon  getting  up  a  bounteous 
meal  of  rye-and-Indian  bread  and  corned  beef  with  cal)bage. 
When  she  had  broiled  some  salt  pork  before  the  embers,  and 
freshened  it  by  dipping  the  sizzling  {)iece  in  a  gourd  of  cold 
water  often,  and  then  again  bringing  it  to  the  coals,  she  set 
about  further  preparation  so  interestedly  as  to  forget  the  low 
fire.  When  she  hung  a  kettle  on  the  crane  she  was  suri)ri.sed 
to  find  the  fire  out.  Not  a  live  ember  remained.  There  was 
no  tinder  box,  and  the  punk  Mr.  Collins  had  taken  with  him. 

"  Joby,"  she  .said  .solemnly,  "  the  fire's  lost.  You  will 
have  to  go  down  to  Uncle  Hiram's  and  get  some  fire,  and  get 


<■<«. 


TWO    OLD-I'ASHIOXKD    HOYS. 


237 


L 


back    quick   as   over   you   can.     Here,  take  the  tongs,  and 
hurry." 

It  was  two  miles  to  the  neighbor's  and  a  four  mile  trudge 
in  the  snow  did  not  promise  any  unusual  amusement.  How- 
ever, he  was  accustomed  to  obeying,  and  that  at  once  Off 
ho  trudged  with  the  tor'^s  astride  his  neck  and  in  due  time 
made  his  errand  known  at  the  neigh])or's  door,  lie  walked 
in  without  rapping,  and  was  cordially  received.  A  big 
twisted  doughnut  and  a  yellow  mug  of  souj)  was  brought,  and 
the  same  relished  with  the  truly  enviable  appetite  of  a  hungry 
boy. 

The  end  of  a  burning  stick  was  caught  in  the  tongs  and 
Joby  started  for  home,  giving  the  ember  an  occasional  whirl 
over  his  head  to  keep  it  "alive."  Weary  and  wet  the  plucky 
lad  arrived  at  his  father's  clearing  and  climbed  the  rail  and 
brush  fence.  His  foot  sli[)pod  and  ho  plunged  off  into  the 
snow  whither  he  emerged  hnlf  sutfocated.  The  ember  had 
fallen  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  fence  and  sizzled  and  smoke<l 
an<l  steamed  as  poor  .loby  scrambled  ai'ound  in  the  snow 
vainly  searching  for  the  tongs.  Those  wore  found  lodged  in 
tlio  fcnco  just  as  lie  was  ready  to  give  up  and  cry.  But  his 
joy  was  (piickly  gone.  .Vn  ominous  silence  m  the  neighbor- 
iiood  of  the  erstwhile  sputtering  eml)er  fi'il'.'d  him  >vith  disap- 
pointment.    The  cherished  live  coal  was  Idaek  and  dead. 

Job  let  out  just  one  wail,  and  then  resolutely  turned  back 
for  another  brand,  and  in  so  doing  exhibited  the  courage  and 
fortitude  of  the  pioneers  who  subdued  the  wooded  and  rocky 
lUaek  Kiver  country.  Our  young  hero  was  successful  in  the 
second  eil'ort,  and  as  he  dried  himself  before  the  big  crackling 
hre  he  soon  recovered  his  wonted  spirits  and  animation. 

His  father  returned  unexpectedly  that  night  having  left 
the  grist  to  be  ground    next   day,   and    it   was  agreed  that  Mr. 


i 


238 


TWO    OLD-KASIIIOXED    IJOYS. 


Marceau  should  remain  with  the  grist.  What  was  his  surprise 
on  going  after  it  to  meet  Mr.  ^hu■ceau  who  had  returned  tive 
or  six  miles  of  the  distance  and  brought  the  two  bags  of  grist 
by  carrying  one  some  distance  and  setting  it  down,  returning 
for  the  other.  He  was  careful  nottcjget  either  out  of  his  sight, 
and  in  the  return  traversed  the  distance  three  times. 

Spring  arrived  with  its  attendant  Hoods  and  a  big  run  of 
suckers,  which  created  no  end  of  amusement  for  the  few  boys 
in  the  neighborhood  who  had  a  great  joke  on  Hone  Marceau. 
He  and  another  neighbor  were  catching  suckers  with  a  small 
scoopnet,  and  the  better  to  {)reserve  them  they  were  thrown  in 
a  rockhole  which  contained  water.  They  had  captured  almost 
a  hundred  of  them  when  they  decided  that  it  were  needless  to 
continue  the  .slaughter.  They  were  not  a  little  surj)rise<l  to 
find  not  a  tish  in  the  hole  and  still  more  surprised  to  find 
in  it  a  communication  with  the  creek  out  of  which  the  one  poor 
sucker  passed  and  repassed  only  to  be  caught  up  and  tos.sed  back 
again  until  almost  exhausted.  Joking  Marceau  was  a  serious 
thing,  however,  esj)ecially  as  Tubb.«,  the  cooper,  had  related 
the  incident  and  the  boys  knew  him  for  a  funny  old  joker. 

Tubbs  was  a  prime  favorite  with  the  boys.  He  had  told 
them  that  he  was  in  a  circus  before  his  arrival  in  their  com- 
munity and  the  wontlerful  feats  he  perfoi'med  and  saw 
performed  completely  won  the  boys  over  to  holding  a  candle 
for  him  as  he  worked  of  an  evening,  and  to  go  on  all  manner 
of  errands.  He  told  them  the  most  delightful  l)ogie  stones 
aliout  banshees  and  death-ticks. 

A  favorite  yarn  was  his  experience  of  driving  a  (•or[)se  at 
a  funeral  "down  ea.st."  He  had  a  })air  of  horses  attached  to 
a  long  sled. 

"The  ground  was  bare  in  spots"  said  he,  "  and  rough  in 
pL'ice.s.     The  coHin    was   placed    in    the  sled  an»l  all  went  well 


TWO    ol.|i-l'ASi:i()NKU    I!(»YS. 


239 


until  the  dosci'iit  of  a  big  hill  was  commeiictHl.  It  was  bare 
and  rough.  The  coffin  Jolted  around  a  good  deal  and  bimby 
the  lid  rattled  off".  The  eor])se  was  a  man  who  had  long 
whiskers  under  his  chin.  I  glanced  backward  over  my 
shoulder  and  got  a  fair  look  at  him.  His  whiskers  were 
blowing  over  the  o<lge  of  the  coflin  and  as  I  was  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  sled  I  thought  he  was  getting  up  to  take  me.  I  put 
the  birch  on  the  horses  and  broke  away  from  the  perseshun 
and  brought  up  at  the  graveyard  half  an  hour  ahead  of  the 
others.  lUit  it  was  mighty  (|ueer  the  lid  had  got  back  to  its 
place  and  I  always  ble(!Ved  the  old  feller  just  reached  out  for 
it  and  fastened  himself  in." 

Just  then  old  Jimmy  came  back  from  the  woods  whither 
he  had  been  sent  by  the  cooper  to  fetch  the  horse.  Jimmy 
was  a  wit  and  he  and  the  cooper  were  never  happier  than 
when  bandying  each  other  with  a  half  dozen  boys  to  appre- 
ciate their  sayings.  Jimmy  stuttered  badly  at  times  and  on 
this  occasion  he  returned  without  the  horse. 

"S-s-t-d-d-ggg  "'  stammered  poor  Jimmy. 

"  Sing  it,"  shouted  the  cooper. 

"The  divil  a  harse  cud  1  see-e  !  "  sang  Jimmy,  and  the 
boys  dodged  behind  the  shop  to  have  a  laugh  at  the  unex- 
[)ected  response. 

It  was  April  and  the  Collins  boys  and  some  others  had 
an  undivided  interest  in  a  log  canoe.  With  such  a  frail  craft 
they  nuide  long  excursions  up  and  down  shore,  and  even 
rigged  up  a  s([uare  sail  out  of  a  woolen  blanket.  They  sailed 
to  the  islands  and  paddled  back,  i)roud  of  their  skill  as 
navigators,  and  even  talked  of  a  voyage  to  the  Harbor  to  see 
the  general  training.  But  it  was  soon  swimming  time  and 
they  lived  a  life  worth  living. 

The  Hrst  swim  of  the  season  chilled  them   blue  but  they 


i 


240 


TW  )    OLD-KASHIONKD    BOYS. 


declared  the  water  warm  and  on  coming  out  met  Valiant 
Smith  and  he,  holding  up  two  fingers  and  proposed  they  go  in 
again. 

"  Go  in  just  once  more,  "  he  plead,  and  although  quak- 
ing the  boys  all  plunged  back  and  never  a  one  was  the  worse 
for  the  cold  dip. 

SCHOOL 

The  summer  term  of  the  district  school  was  to  open  with 
a  lady  teacher.  The  building  was  nuide  of  squared  logs  and 
warmed  with  a  big  fireplace  opposite  the  only  door.  Pine 
seats  ran  around  the  walls,  and  these  were  confronted  by  pine 
desks  attached  to  which  was  a  low  seat  which  served  the  pur- 
pose of  recitation  seats. 

During  the  })receding  winter  term  a  blackboard  had  been 
placed  on  either  side  of  the  door.  A  water  pail  occupied  a 
bench  on  the  right  und  a  high  desk  filled  the  portion  of  the 
opposite  side  not  occupied  by  the  seats.  Paper  wads  crusted 
the  ceiling,  and  the  seats  showed  strange  characters  deep- 
carved  and  filled  with  dried  ink.  The  windows  were  small 
and  filled  with  "  seven-by-nine  "  [)anes.  The  "  forest  prime- 
val "  grew  in  the  yard,  and  primitive  rocks,  rearing  their  ugly 
heads  out  of  the  soil,  .stubbed  majiy  u  bare  toe  the  while  the 
term  lasted. 

Ben  and  Job  arose  early  on  the  first  day  of  school  and 
just  at  daylight  repaired  to  the  schooliiouse,  and  crawling  into 
a  window,  .selected  their  seats  for  the  term.  Others  soon  .-ir- 
rived  and  as  they  worked  their  wsiy  in  Hen  and  .lob  set  up  m 
yell  that  scared  the  intruders  almost  into  fits.  I^heir  seats  se- 
lected and  books  deposited,  an  adjournment  was  taken  to  the 
yard,  some  bats  and  a  leather-covered  ball  were  produced  and 
a  game  of  four-old-cat  was  started.  Hen  was  catcher,  and  he 
got  too  close  to  the  bat.     As  the  batsman,  with  a  foot  on  the 


I 


» 


TWO    ()Ln-KASHK)NKl>    HOYH. 


241 


])yo,  drew  back  to  sock  the  hall  out  into  the  woods  his  club 
came  in  contact  with  Hen's  face.     The  sniilo  faded  and  tears 

flowed. 

"  I  just  wanted  to  see  if  I  could  strike  the  ball  hard 
enough  to  make  the  fire  fly  as  Tubbs  says  he  usto,"  said  the 
striker,  "  but  T  didn't  know  Ben  was  so  close." 

The  i-epairs  took  some  time  and  when  the  boys  were 
ready  for  something  else  the  teacher  arrived.  She  was  a  little 
woman  of  uncertain  age,  but  full  of  determination.  The 
hoys  hung  about  the  door  while  the  big  barefooted  girls  went 
spat,  spat  into  the  schoolhouse  behind  the  teacher.  Soon 
there  was  a  cloud  of  dust  issuing  from  the  door  and  windows. 
"  Will  some  of  the  young  gentlemen  bring  in  some  cedar 
boughs  for  the  fire-place  ?  " 

Slowly  they  started.  "Young  gentlemen,"  they  re- 
peated, but  all  the  same  they  brought  in  more  than  would  fill 
the  black  cavern  of  a  fireplace.  A  sharp  rapping  on  the 
window  assembled  the  school  in  their  seats  and  the  reign  of 
the  new  teacher  was  fairly  begun  over  a  colony  of  homespun 
trowsers  and  gingham  aprons. 

The  first  class  in  reading  was  called  out  and  stood  in  a 
row  in  front  of  the  teacher's  d.'sk.  The  book  used  was  the 
Knglish  Meadvr  which  was  filled  with  horrible  narratives  of 
Indian  massacre,  suHeringsof  wrecked  humanity  at  sea,  earth- 
quakes, executions  and  death  in  frightful  form.  On  the  other 
hand  the  work  contains  some  of  the  best  selections  of  English 
verse  as  Well  as  prose  in  existence.  To  test  the  new  comers  in 
the  class  the  following  selections  wore  road  from  books  with 
wooden  covers : 

TllK    I'.KARS    AM)    TIIK    BICES. 

As  two  young  liear.s,  in  wanton  mood 
Forth  issuing  from  a  neighlioring  wood. 


242 


TWO    ()I,|)-KASin()NKI>    lioYS. 

Como  where  th'  industrious  bees  had  HtorM, 
In  artful  cells,  their  luscious  hoard  ; 
O'erjoy'd  they  seized,  with  eager  haste, 
Luxurious  on  the  rich  repast. 
Alarni'd  at  this,  the  little  crew 
About  their  ears  vindictive  flew. 

The  beasts,  unable  to  sustain 
Th'  unequal  combat,  ([uit  the  plain  ; 
Half-blind  with  rage,  and  mad  with  pain, 
Their  native  shelter  they  regain  ; 
There  sit,  and  now,  discreeter  grown, 
Too  late  their  rashness  they  bemoan  ; 
And  this  by  dear  experience  gain, 
That  pleasure's  ever  bought  with  pam. 
So  when  the  gilded  baits  of  vice 
Are  plac'd  before  our  longing  eyes. 
With  greedy  haste  we  snatch  our  fill, 
And  swallow  down  the  latent  ill  ; 
But  when  experience  opens  our  eyes. 
Away  the  fancied  pleasure  flies, 
It  flies,  but  oh  !  too  late  we  find, 
It  leaves  a  real  sting  behind. 

TIIK    YOUTH    AND    THE    I'HILGSOTI        >, 

A  Grecian  youth  of  talents  rare. 
Whom  Plato's  philosophic  care 
Had  forrn'd  for  virtue's  nobler  view, 
By  precept  and  example  too. 
Would  often  boast  liis  matchless  skill, 
To  curb  the  steed  and  guide  the  wheel  ; 
And  as  he  pass'd  the  gazing  throng. 


I 


TWO    OLD-VASHIONKD    HOYH. 


243 


Witli  graceful  case,  and  sinackVl  the  thong, 
Thii  itliot  woiuk-r  tlioy  cxpress'd, 
Was  praise  ami  transport  to  liis  breast. 

At  lengtli,  (juito  vain,  lio  needs  would  show 
His  master  what  his  art  eould  do, 
And  bade  his  shives  the  chariot  lead 
To  Academua'  sacred  sliade. 
The  trembling  grove  confess'd  its  fright, 
The  wood-nymphs  started  at  the  sight ; 
The  muses  droj)  the  learned  lyre, 
And  to  their  inmost  shades  retire. 

llowe'er,  the  youth,  with  forward  air. 
Hows  to  the  sage,  and  mounts  the  ear. 
The  lash  resounds,  the  coursers  spring. 
The  chariot  marks  the  rolling  ring. 
And  gath'ring  crowds,  with  eager  eyes, 
And  shouts,  pursue  him  as  he  flies. 

Triumphant  to  the  goal  return'd. 
With  nobler  thirst  his  bosom  burn'd  ; 
And  now  along  th'  idented  plain, 
The  self-same  track  he  marks  again. 
Pursues  with  care  the  nice  design, 
Nor  ever  deviates  from  the  line. 
Amazement  seiz'd  the  circling  crowd  ; 
The  youths  with  emulation  glow'd  ; 
Ev'n  bearded  sages  hail'd  the  boy  ; 
And  all  but  Plato  gaz'd  with  joy. 

For  he,  deep-judging  sage,  beheld 
With  i)ain  the  triumphs  of  the  field  ; 
And  when  the  charioteer  drew  nigh, 


244  TWO  oli)-fashi(»ni:t)  r.ovs. 

And,  ttushVl  with  hope,  had  caught  his  eye— 

"  Alas  !  uidiappy  youth,"  he  ery'd, 

"  Expect  no  praise  from  me,"  (and  sigh'd.) 

"  With  indignation  1  survey 
Such  skill  and  judgment  thrown  away  ; 
The  time  profusely  siiuander'd  there, 
On  vulgar  arts  beneath  thy  care. 
If  well  emi)loy'd,  at  less  expense, 
Had  taught  thee  honor,  virtue,  sense  ; 
And  rais'd  thee  from  a  eoaclnnan's  fate, 
To  govern  men,  and  guide  the  state." 

KAinMKjrAKK    AT    CATANKA. 

One  of  the  earth(,uakes  most  particularly  described  in 
historv  is  that  which  happened  in  the  year  1G93;  the  damages 
of  which  were  chieilv  felt  in  Sicily,  but  its  motion  was  per- 
ceived in  (;ermany,  France  and  England.  It  extended  to  a 
circumference  of  two  thousand  six  hundred  leagues,  chiefly 
uffecting  the  sea  coasts  and  great  rivers,  more  perceivable  also 
upon  the  mountains  than  in  the  valleys. 

Its  motions  were  so  rapid  that  persons  who  lay  at  their 
len.-th,  were  tossed  from  side  to  side  as  upon  a  rolhng  billow. 
The  walls  were  dashed  from  thc-ir  fcun.lations,  and  uu  lewer 
than  lifty  cities,  with  an  increditable  number  of  villages,  w.re 
.ither  destroven  or  greatly  <lamaged.  The  city  of  ( 'atanea  ui 
,„,t;.  dar  was  utt<M-lv  overthrown.  A  traveller  who  was  on  his 
way  thither  peu-eived  at  the  distance  of  some  nnles.  a  black 
cloud  like  night,  hanging  over  the  place. 

The  sea  all  of  a  sudden  began  to  roar,  Mount  .Etna  to 
scud  forth  ureat  spires  of  llamcs,  an.l  soon  after  a  shock  en- 
sued with  a  n..ise  as  if  all  !!..■  a.tilieiy  in  the  worhl  had  been 
at  unee  discharged.     Our  ir.veller  being  obliged  In   al.gbt  m- 


' 


TWO    OLD-FASHIOXEI)    150YS. 


245 


stantly,  felt  hiniseii"  mispd  a  foot  from  the  ground,  and  turn- 
ing his  eyes  to  the  city  he  witli  amazement  saw  nothing  but  a 
thick  cloud  of  dust  in  the  air. 

The  birds  flew  about  astonished,  tlie  sun  was  darkened, 
the  beasts  ran  howling  from  the  hills,  and  although  the  shock 
did  not  continue  above  three  minutes,  yet  near  nineteen  thou- 
sand of  the  inhabitants  of  Sicily,  })erished  in  the  ruins.  Cat- 
anea,  to  which  city  the  describer  was  traveling,  seemed  the 
principal  scene  of  ruin,  its  [)lace  only  was  to  be  found,  and 
not  a  footstep  of  its  former  magn"f^cence  was  to  be  seen  re- 
maining. 

The  following  lines  were  read  in  concert,  and  thundering 
accent  of  the  boys  with  changing  voices  which  sometimes  rose 
to  a  strange  ftilsetto,  mingled  with  the  pii)ing  sopranos  was 
indeed  a  strange  exhibit'on  of  rhetorical  exerci.ses  : 

THK    NICiHTINGALK    AND    TIIK    (iLOW-WOKM. 


A  nightingale,  that  all  day  long 
Had  cheer'd  the  village  with  his  song. 
Nor  yet  at  eve  his  note  susj)ended, 
Nor  yet  when  eventide  was  ended, 
IJegan  to  feel,  as  well  he  might. 
The  keen  demands  of  apj)etit('  ; 
When,  looking  eagerly  around. 
He  spied  far  oft' upon  the  ground, 
A  something  shining  in  the  dark, 
And  knew  t]i(>  glow-worm  by  liis  spiirk. 
So,  stooping  down  from  hawthorn  top 
He  thought  to  )»ut  him  in  his  crop.    , 

'^riie  worm,  aware  of  his  intent, 
Hai'angued  him  tluis,  right  elorpicnt — 


246 


TWO    OLD-FASIIIONKD    150YS. 


"  Did  you  admire  my  lamp,  "  quoth  he, 
"  As  much  as  I  your  minstrelsy, 
You  would  abhor  to  do  me  wrong. 
As  much  as  I  to  spoil  your  song  ; 
For  'twas  the.  self-same  pow'r  divine, 
Taught  you  to  sing  and  me  to  shine  ; 
That  you  with  music,  I  with  light. 
Might  beautify  and  cheer  the  night.  " 
The  songster  heard  his  short  oration, 
And,  warbling  out  his  approbation, 
Keleas'd  him,  as  my  story  tells. 
And  found  a  supper  somewhere  else. 
Hence,  jarring  sectaries  may  learn, 
Their  real  int'rest  to  discern  ; 
That  brother  should  not  war  with  brother 
And  worry  and  devour  each  other  : 
But  sing  and  shine  by  sweet  consent. 
Till  life's  poor,  transient  night  is  spent ; 
Respecting  in  each  other's  case 
The  gifts  of  nature  and  of  grace. 

Those  Christians  best  deserve  the  name. 
Who  studiously  make  peace  their  aim  : 
Peace,  both  the  duty  and  the  prize 
Of  him  that  creeps,  and  him  that  flies. 
The  teacher  wishing  to  introduce  a  new  reader  placed  in 
the  hands  of  her  pupils  a  now  book  called  the  American  Pre- 
ceptor, and  to  instruct  the  class  they  were  permitted  to  read 
longer  than  was  the  custom.     And   the  following  selections 
were  "  practiced  "  upon  : 

SINOULAK    ADVKNTUKK    OF    GENEHAL    VUTNAM. 

When  General  Putnam  first  moved  to  Pomfret,  in  Con- 


f 


TWO    OLD-FASinONKI)    HOYS. 


247 


necticut,  in  the  year  1739,  the  country  was  new  and  much 
infested  with  wolves.  Great  havoc  was  made  among  the 
sheep  by  a  she  wolf  which  with  her  annual  whelps,  had  for 
several  years  continued  in  that  vicinity.  The  young  ones 
were  commonly  destroyed  by  the  vigilance  of  the  hunters ; 
but  the  old  one  was  too  sagacious  to  be  ensnared  by  them. 

This  wolf,  at  length,  became  such  an  intolerable 
nuisance,  that  Mr.  Putnam  entered  into  a  combination  with 
five  01  his  neighbors  to  hunt  alternately  until  they  could  des- 
troy her.  Two  by  rotation,  were  to  be  constantly  in  pursuit. 
It  was  known,  that,  having  lost  the  toes  from  one  foot  by  a 
steel  trap,  she  made  one  track  shorter  than  the  other. 

By  this  vestige,  the  pursuers  recognized,  in  a  light  snow, 
the  route  of  this  pernicious  animal.  Having  followed  her  to 
the  Connecticut  river,  and  found  she  had  turned  back  in  a 
direct  course  towards  Pomfret,  thoy  immediately  returned, 
and  by  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  the  bloodhounds  had 
driven  her  into  a  den,  about  three  miles  distant  from  the 
house  of  Mr.  Putnam. 

The  people  soon  ('ollected  with  dogs,  guns,  straw,  fire 
and  sulphur,  to  attack  the  common  enemy.  With  this  ap- 
paratus, several  unsuccessful  efforts  weu  made  to  force  her 
from  the  den.  The  hounds  came  back  badly  wounded  and 
refused  to  return.  The  smoke  ol  blazing  straw  had  no  effect. 
Nor  did  the  fumes  of  burnt  brimstone,  with  which  the  cavern 
was  filled,  compel  her  to  ([uit  the  retirement. 

Wearied  with  such  fruith'ss  attempts  (  which  bad  brought 
the  time  to  ten  o'clock  at  night)  Mr.  Putnam  tried  once  more 
to  make  his  dog  enter,  but  in  vain  ;  he  proposed  to  his  negro 
man  to  go  down  into  the  cavern  and  shoot  the  wolf.  The 
negro  declined  the  hazardous  service. 

Then  it  was  that   their  master,  angry  at  the  disappoint- 


248 


TWO    OLD-J  ASIIIONKI)    BOYS. 


nient,  and  declaring  that  ho  was  ashamed  of  having  a  coward 
in  his  family,  resolved  himself  to  destroy  the  ferocious  beast, 
lest  she  should  escape  tlirough  some  unknown  fissure  of  the 
rock. 

His  neighVjors  strongly  remontrated  against  the  perilous 
enterprise  ;  but  he  knowing  that  wild  animals  were  intimid- 
ated by  fire,  and  having  provided  several  strips  of  birch  bark, 
the  only  conbustible  material  which  he  could  obtain,  which 
would  uirord  light  in  this  deep  and  darksome  cave,  prepared 
for  hi.s  descent. 

Having  accordingly,  divested  himself  of  his  coat  and  waist- 
coat, and  having  a  long  ropi-  fastened  round  his  legs,  by 
which  he  might  be  pulled  back,  at  a  concerted  signal,  he 
entered,  head  foremost,  with  the  blazing  torch  in  his  hand. 

Having  groped  his  passage  till  he  came  to  a  horizontal 
part  of  the  den,  the  most  terrifying  darkness  appeared  in  front 
of  the  dim  circle  of  light  aiforded  by  the  torch.  It  was  silent 
as  the  house  of  death.  None  but  monsters  of  the  desert  had 
ever  before  ('X[)lore(l  this  solitary  mansion  of  horror. 

He  cautiously  proceeding  onwanl,  came  to  an  ascent, 
which  he  slowly  mounted  on  his  hands  and  knees  until  ho 
discovered  the  glaring  eyeballs  of  the  wolf,  who  was  sitting  at 
the  extremity  of  the  cavern.  Startled  at  the  sight  of  fire,  she 
gnashed  her  teet.'   tud  gave  a  sullen  growl. 

As  soon  as  he  had  made  the  necessary  discovery  he 
kicked  the  rope  as  a  signal  for  pulling  him  out.  The  people, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  den,  who  iiad  listened  with  painful  anx- 
iety, hearing  the  growling  of  the  wolf,  and  supposing  their 
friend  to  be  in  the  most  imminent  danger,  drew  him  forth 
with  such  celerity  that  he  was  stripped  of  his  clothes,  and 
severely  bruised. 

After  he  had  adjusted  his  clothes,  and  loaded  his  gun 


wmm 


TWO    ()I,l»-K.VSllI()Ni:i)    I'.OYS. 


245) 


with  nine  buck  shot,  holding  a  torch  in  one  hand  and  the 

musket  in  tlie  other,  lie  descended  a  second   time.     When  he 

drew  nearer  than  before,  the  wolf  assuming  a  still  more  fierce 

and  terrible  appearance,  howling,  rolling  her  eyes,  snapping 

her   teeth,    and   dropping   her  head    l)etween    her  legs   was 

evidently  in  the  attitude  and   on  the  point  of  springing  on 
him. 

At  this  critical  instant  he  leveled  and  fired  at  her  head. 
Stuimed  with  the  shock  and  sufibcatcd  with  the  smoke  he  im- 
mediately found  himself  drawn  out  of  the  cave.  IJut  having 
refreshed  himself  and  permitted  the  smoke  to  dissipate  he 
went  down  a  third  time. 

Once  more  he  came  within  sight  of  the  wolf,  who  appear- 
ing very  passive,  he  ajiplicd  the  torch  to  her  nose,  and  per- 
ceiving her  dead,  he  took  hold  of  her  ears  and  then  kicking 
the  rojie,  still  tied  round  his  legs,  the  peoi)le  above  with  no 
small  exultation,  dragged  (hem  both  out  together. 


STORY    OF    TAMiA.V,    A    MrXdO    CHIKI'. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1774,  a  robbery  and  murder 
were  committed  on  an  inhabitant  of  the  frontiers  of  Virginia 
by  two  Indians  of  the  Shawanese  tribe.  The  neighboring 
whites,  according  to  their  custom,  undertook  to  punish  this 
outrage  in  a  summary  way.  Colonel  Cresaji,  a  man  infamous 
for  the  many  murders  he  had  committed  on  these  uuich  in- 
jured peo})le,  collected  a  party  and  proceeded  down  the  Kan- 
haway  in  ([uest  of  vengeance. 

I'nfortunately,  a  canoe  of  women  and  children,  with  one 
man  only,  was  .seen  coming  from  the  opposite  shore,  unarmed, 
and  uusus[)ecting  any  hostile  attack  from  the  whites.  Cresap 
and  his  pcrty  concealed  themselves  on  the  bank   of  the  river, 


250 


TWO    OUKFASHIOXED    BOYS. 


and  the  moment  the  canoe  reached  the  shore,  singled  out  their 
ol)jocts,  and,  at  one  fire,  killed  every  person  in  it. 

This  hai)])ened  to  he  the  family  of  Logan,  who  had  long 
been  distinguished  as  the  friend  of  the  whites.  This  unworthy 
return  provoked  his  vengeance.  He  accordingly  signalized 
himself  in  the  war  which  ensued. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  a  decisive  battle  was 
fought  at  the  mouth  of  the  (Jreat  Kenhaway,  between  the 
collected  forces  of  the  Shawanese,  Mingoesand  Delawares,  and 
a  detachment  of  the  Virginia  militia.  The  Indians  were 
defeated  and  sued  for  peace. 

Logan,  however,  disdained  to  be  seen  among  the  sup- 
plicants ;  but,  lest  the  sincerity  of  a  treaty  should  be  distrust- 
ed, from  which  so  distinguished  a  chief  absented  himself,  he 
sent  by  a  messenger,  the  following  speech,  to  be  delivered  to 
Lord  Dun  more : 

"  I  ap{)eal  to  any  white  man  to  say  if  ever  he  entered 
Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  no  meat ;  ii  ever  he 
came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him  not.  During  the 
last  long  and  bloody  war,  Logan  remained  idle  in  his  cabin, 
an  advocate  for  peace. 

"  Such  was  my  love  for  the  whites,  that  my  countrymen 
pointed  as  they  passed  by,  and  said,  Logan  is  the  friend  of 
Nv'tiite  men.  I  had  even  tlioughl  to  have  lived  with  you,  iiatl 
it  not  been  for  the  injuries  of  one  man.  Colonel  Cresap,  the 
last  s|»ring,  in  cold  blood,  and  unprovoked,  murdered  all  tlie 
relations  of  Logan,  not  even  sparing  my  women  and  children. 

'•There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood  in  tlie  veins  of  any 
living  creature.  This  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have 
fought  it ;  1  have  killed  many ;  I  have  fully  glutted  my 
vengeatice.  For  my  country,  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace  ; 
liut  do  not  harbor  a    thought   that   mine   is  the  jny  of  fear. 


i 


TWO    (»I,I>-I  ASHIONKD    BOYS. 


251 


^. 


Lojiiin  uvwv  fi'lt  icar.  lU^  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save 
hi.s  lift'.      Who  is  there  to  iiiouru  for  Logan?     Not  one." 

This  cxcreisc  (ivcr,  the  smaller  children  were  called  out 
and  read  from  Wchstcr's  spelling  book.  There  was  no  inter- 
mediary reader  between  the  speller  and  the  fMiglish  reader. 
Passing  upward  from  the  one  to  the  other  was  a  severe  test, 
Init  one  coveted  by  those  who  knew  by  rote  the  story  ot  the 
>hiid  and  the  Milk,  the  boy  in  the  apple  tree  who  would  not 
come  down  when  the  farmer  threw  grass,  and  the  other  few 
moral  stories  "for  the  instruction  of  the  very  young." 

I'.en  often  declared  that  "  'rithmetic  was  his  best  holt,"  and 
it  was  therefore  with  a  secret  delight  that  he  joined  the  class 
when  it  was  called,  lie  felt  that  liere  was  one  subject  at  least 
in  which  he  would  fully  acfiuit  himself  and  make  an  impres- 
sion of  the  ac(iuirement  upon  the  new  teacher.  The  text- 
book was  "  iJuger's  New  System  of  Arithmetick."  The  pub- 
lislu'r  was  William  linger,  A.  H.,  author  of  a  grammar  and  at 
least  one  other  school-book,  and  printed  in  Watertown,  N.  Y., 
by  Knowlton  it   Rice. 

The  inside  pages  were  scrawle<l  over  with  a  ([uill,  and 
quaint  wei'c  the  sentiments  recorded  on  the  Hy  leaves.     Here 

is  one  : 

Tf  to  my  friend. 
This  book  1  lend. 
And  hnd  it  greased  or  tore, 
lie  may  rely 
I  will  denv 
To  lend  it  any  more. 
The  old  •'  tinker  sum  "  was  set  before  l'>en,  and  boldly  he 
made  the  attack.      His  task  may  be  the  better  appreciated  if 
here  rei)roduced  : 

One  evening  I  chanced  with  a  tinker  to  sit, 


252 


TWO    or.D-l'ASTllONKI)    lioYS. 


Whose  tongue  ran  a  great  deal  too  fast  for  his  wit. 
He  talked  of  his  art  and  abundance  of  metal, 
So  I  asked  him  to  make  me  a  flat-bottom  kettle. 
Let  the  top  and  the  bottom  diameters  be 
In  just  such  proportion  as  five  is  to  three  ; 
Twelve  inches  the  dei)th  I  proposed  and  no  more, 
To  hold  in  ale  gallons  seven  less  than  a  score. 
He  promised  to  do  it  and  straight  to  work  went. 
But  when  he  had  done  it  he  found  it  too  scant. 
Thus  altering  it  often  too  big  and  too  little. 
The  tinker  at  last  quite  si)Oiled  his  kettle. 
He  says  he  will  bring  his  sad  i)Vomise  to  pass. 
Or  else  he  will  spoil  every  ounce  of  his  brass. 
Now  show  your  skill,  you  learned  youth. 
And  by  your  work  this  sum  produce. 
Job  wrestled  like  .Jacob,  but  like  the  tinker  his  pot  was  at 
times  too  large  and  anon  too  small.      After  giving  it  up  he 
left  this  couplet  on  the  board  : 

The  tinker  man's  problem  I've  failed  to  settle. 
May  Old  Nick  catch  him  and  his  flat-bottom  kettle. 
Another  problem  in  rhyme  was  given  the  class  and  a 
merit  mark  promised  the  one  who  should  reach  the  correct 
answer  first.     It  ran  in  this  wise  : 

As  I  was  hunting  on  the  forest  grounds. 
Up  starts  a  hare  before  my  two  grey-hounds  ; 
The  dogs,  being  light  of  foot,  did  fairly  run 
Unto  her  fifteen  rods  just  twenty-one. 
The  distance  that  she  started  up  before 
Was  four  score  and  sixteen  rods,  just,  and  no  more  ; 
Now  this  I'd  have  you  unto  me  declare- 
How  far  they  ran  before  they  caught  the  hare. 
Ben  applied  the  good  ol<l  Rule  of  Three  and  obtained  the 


i 


i 


t 


TWO   ()M)-I'ASII1()NJ:U    isoys. 


253 


correct  answer  long  before  the  others,  and   having  awakened 
his  Muse  he  exi)resse(l  the  result  in  the  following  rhyme : 
01(1  Ruger's  hare  was  raced  at  unseeniing  odds, 
And  lost  her  life  at  three  hundre<l  thirty -six  rods. 
The  class  was  examined  in  vulgar  fractions  and  divided 
into  two  classes.     The  first  class  was  examined  in  Fellowship 
and  closed  with  some  examples  in  Tare  and  Tret.     A  few 
paragraphs  from  the  explanatory  notes  under  this  head  are 
appended : 

Tare  and  tret  are  allowances  made  to  the  buver,  on  the 
weight  of  some  particular  commodities. 

Tare  is  an  allowance  made  for  the  weight  of  the  barrel, 
box,  bag,  or  whatever  contains  the  articles  or  goods. 

Tret  is  an  allowance  of  41t).  on  every  1041t).  for  wa.ste, 
dust,  etc. 

Cloff  is  an  allowance,  on  some  commodities,  of  2ft).  on 
every  cwt.  to  turn  the  scale,  or  to  make  the  weight  hold  out, 
when  goods  are  re  weighed,  and  is  claimed  chiefly,  or  only,  by 
the  merchants  of  London. 

Scuttle  is  what  remains  after  a  part  of  the  allowance  is 
deducted  from  the  gross  weight. 

Net  weight  is  what  remains  after  all  allowances  are  made. 
The   class   in   arithmetic    was   dismissed    with   another 
poetical  pro])lem  : 

Friend  John,  who  had  in  credit  liv'd, 
Though  now  reduc'd,  a  sum  receiv'd — 
This  lucky  hit  's  no  sooner  found. 
Than  clam'rous  duns  came  swarming  round  ; 
To  th'  landlord — baker — many  more, 
John  paid,  in  all,  pounds  ninety-four. 
Half  what  rcmain'd,  a  friend  he  lent. 
On  Joan  and  'self  one-fifth  lie  s|ieiit  ; 


254 


TWO    OLD-FASHIONED    BOYS. 


And  wht'ii  of  all  these  sums  bereft, 

One-tenth  o'  th'  .sum  received  had  left; 

Now  show  your  skill,  you  learned  youths. 

And  by  vour  work  the  sum  produce. 
"  Recess  !  "  .said  the  teacher.  IVll  mell  the  boys  in  long- 
tailed  coats  set  oil'  with  big  brass  buttons  and  the  girls  in 
pantalettes  rushed  out  and  raced  themsclv(-s  re<l  playing  hi- 
spy,  pom-poin-pullaway  and  hunt  the  hare.  A  smart  rap- 
ping on  the  window  recalled  them  again  to  study.  J«)by 
Collins  had  a  scheme  which  lie  cherished  so  ch)sely  as  to 
almost  fear  some  of  the  boys  would  hear  him  think.  They 
were  not  fairly  seated  when  he  broke  out  : 

"Teacher!     Can  Welcome  Pettit   and  me  go  alter  a  pail 

of  water  ? "  .         ,      ,      i    .  .    ^ 

Yes,  they  could  go,  and  so  carrying   th(>  bucket   between^ 

them  thev  trudged  away  rejoicing  at  cutting  the  hours  of 
study  just  ,so  much  short.  When  they  returned  the  infant 
class  was  studying  the  alphabet  in  the  spelling  book.  Then 
the  .second  class  in  spelling  wns  called  out.  The  system  of 
leaving  ofl"  at  the  head  every  niglit  was  in  vogue,  and  mighty 
were  the  strifes  for  that  coveted  honor.  .b)l)  and  his  compan- 
ion joined  the  class  after  passing  the  water,  a  j.rivilcge  that 
was' too  often  made  the  excuse  for  a  poor  les.<on.  -lob,  as  usual, 
drifted  slowly  but  surely  to  the  foot  of  the  class. 
"  Drag,  "  pronounced  the  teacher. 

One  after  another  missed  tlic  word  until  it   c.-ime   to  -fob. 
"Now,  Joby,  "  said  the  teaclier  encouragingly,  "you  spell 
drag  and  you  shall  go  clear  to  the  head." 

"  Yes,  mom,  "  replied  Job,  and    he  struck  an  attitude  ot 
deep  thought.     Suddenly  he  almost  shouted  : 

"Drag.     S-l-r,  drag!  "   And  he  fairly  ran  to  the  head  of 
the  class  whence  the   tcMcher   had   not    the   heart  to   mar  the 


^ 


TWO    <)I.Ii-1ASIIH)M:I)    I!(»YS. 


255 


jvlory  of  his  victory  l)y  correcting  his  ortlioji;ruphy,  and  dis- 
iiiisscd  the  chiss  tunid  a  temporary  reign  (jI"  sensational  dis- 
order. 

"  First  chiss  in  spelling.  " 

Again  the  hig  hoys  and  girls  lined  nj)  and  read  a  i)age 
heginning  with  these  paragraphs: 

Let  not  reading  cause  you  to  neglect  spelling.  Learn  to 
spell  and  pronounce  hcfore  you  read  much. 

(Jood  spelling  is  the  sure  way  to  good  reading,  therefore, 
study  spelling  with  the  greatest  care,  until  you  can  spell  all 
the  words  in  this  hook,  as  soon  as  you  hear  them,  without  see- 
ing them. 

Wlien  you  can  spell  well,  you  will  soon  hecome  a  good 
reader ;  and  as  soon  as  you  shall  he  at)le  to  read  well,  you  will 
l>e  permitted  to  study  grammar. 

(irammar  will  teach  you  what  is  meant  hy  the  parts  of 
speech,  and  how  to  speak  and  write  as  you  ought;  and  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  grammar,  your  language  will  be  incor- 
rect, and  you  will  always  be  marked  by  your  friends  as  a  poor 

scholar. 

Then  the  good  old  pocTii  about  the  rose  was  read.  Some 
thei-e  1k'  who  can  recite  it  tVom  memory  : 

TMK   KOSK. 

How  fair  is  the  rose,  what  a  beautiful  flower! 

In  summer  so  fragrant  and  gay  ! 
Hut  the  leaves  are  beginning  to  fade  in  an  hour, 

Antl  they  wither  and  die  in  a  day. 

Yet  the  rose  has  one  powerful   virtue  to  boast 

Above  all  tiie  llowers  of  the  Held  ; 
When  its  leaves  are  all  dead,  and  its  fine  colors  lost, 

Still  how  sweet  a  i»eifume  it  will  yield. 


256 


TWO   OLIJ-FASHIONED    HOYS. 


So  frnil  are  the  youth  uiui  the  heauty  of  men, 
Thougli  tlu'y  look  gay  and  bloom  like  the  rose  ; 

Yet  all  our  fond  care  to  preserve  them  is  vain, 
Time  kills  them  as  fast  as  he  goes. 

Then  I'll  not  be  proud  of  my  youth  or  my  beauty, 
Since  both  will  soon  wither  and  fade  ; 

But  gain  a  good  name  by  perfortning  my  duty  ; 
This  will  scent,  like  the  rose,  when  I'm  dead. 

Following  the  reading  the  words  in  the  lesson  were  "  put 
out,"  words  that  Ben  declared  Noah  Web.ster  himself  could  not 
spell  and  in  fact  did  not,  in  some  instances,  correctly  : 


i 


Electioneer, 

Proportionable, 

Confectionary, 

Agglutination, 

Amalgamation, 

Approximation, 
Calumniation, 


Circumlution, 

Circumvallation, 

Prognostication, 

Transfiguration, 

(;on.stitutionalist. 

Plenipotentiary, 

Excommunication. 


t 


Then  the  class  was  lead  over  a  rocky  territory  of  words  of 
the  same  pronunciation,  but  of  different  .spelling  and  defini- 
tion : 

Ail,  to  pain  or  trouble. 

Ale,  a  kin<l  of  l)cer. 
Air,  one  of  the  elements. 
Ere,  before,  sooner  than. 
Heir,  an  inheritor. 
Aisle,  the  walk  in  a  cliurch. 
I'll,  contraction  for  I  will. 
Ait,  a  small  island  in  a  river. 
Ate,  the  preterit  of  eat. 
Eight,  twice  four. 


f 


TWO   OLI)-KASHTON-KD    noYS. 


257 


i 


t 


I 


C'ore,  to  cover  with  wax. 

Sear,  dry  ;  to  burn. 

Seer,  n  prophet. 

Sere,  withered. 
Shiie,  a  weaver's  reed. 

Sleigh,  a  kind  of  carriage. 

Slay,  to  kill. 

Sley,  to  part  into  threads. 
Porniiscible,  that  which  may  be  mingled. 

Permissible,  that  which  may  be  permitted. 

Aother  piece  of  poetry  was  read   with   strong  accents  by 
the  teacher  and  deserves  a  place  in  the  storehouse  of  memory: 

WHAT    IS    CIIAKITY? 

'Tis  not  to  pau.se  when  at  my  door 

A  .shivering  brother  stands; 
To  ask  the  cause  that  made  him  poor. 

Or  why  he  helj)  demands. 

'Tie  not  to  spurn  that  brother's  prayer 

For  faults  he  once  has  known  ; 
'Tis  not  to  leave  him  in  despair. 

And  say  that  I  have  none. 

The  voice  of  charity  is  kind — 

She  thinketh  nothing  wrong  ; 
To  every  fault  she  seemeth  blind. 

Nor  vaunteth  with  her  tongue. 

In  |>enitence  she  placeth  faith — 

lk)pe  sinileth  at  her  (Utor  : 
Uelieveth  first — Then  softly  saith, 

"  (}o,  brother,  sin  no  more.  " 
The  class  n»xnd)en><l   and    retired   to   their  seats  whence 


2oS 


TWO    ()|,|)-l'.\SllI<tNi;|)    I'.oYS. 


tlicy  wcri'  soon  hurrying  out  for  noon.  Tlie  aftt'rnoon  pro- 
graiii  was  varied  with  tlic  sultstitutioii  ol'  <ic'ogi'ajihy  I'oi'  ihc 
arithmetic.  It  contaiiietl  im  illustrations,  no  maps  and  was  a 
dull,  tedious  study.  The  work  was  aeeompanied  by  an  atlas  to 
whicl 
Adai 


1  retereiiee  was  s 


eldom  had.      It   was    the  work  of  Daniel 


ns. 


A.  M. 


with 


luthor   of  the  arithmcti 


TUK    W(JI{I.]). 


Tl 


le  lessons  hegin 


T] 


le   woi 


Id  or  earth  is*  a  large  globe,  the  diame'tt;-  of 
which  is  nearly  eight  thousand  miles,  and  its  surface  contains 
nearly  200  millions  of  square  miles. 

It  is  Of)  millions  of  miles  from   the  sun,   about   which   it 
revolves  once  a  vear ;  and  turns    round  on   its  own  axis  everv 


lav 


The  earth  is  generally  divided  into  four  uneipial  pari 


called  (luai'ters  ; 


Kur 


one 


A 


sia, 


Afri 


ca,  a 


nd  Ameri 


ca. 


Eorope  is  the  smallest  division,   but   is  distinguisheii  for 


It 


s  learnuig.  poiit"ness.  governmi 


nt.   and  laws  ;  for  the  ind 


us- 


try  of  its  iidiabitants,  and  the  temperature  of  its  climate.  It  is 
the  only  quarter  of  the  globe  which  has  yet  iieen  fully  ex- 
plored and  known. 

In  Asia,  the  human  race  was  first  planted,  and  tliei'e  the 
most  remarkable  transactions  occurred,  which  ai'e  recorded  in 
the  serij)ture  history. 

Africa  has  been  always  in  a  state  of  barbai'ism,  if  wc  ex- 
cept   the   Egyptians,    those   ancient   fathers   of   leai'nitig,    and 


Carth 


nige,  once  the  rival  of  tin 


Ron 


an   iMnpii'c 


America  was   unkm-wn   to   the  inhabitams   of  tli 


>tli(  r 


continent,  til 


little    more    than    tlii'ce    hniuli'cd    vear- 


when  it  was  discovered  liy  < 'hiistopher  ('ohnnlin<  ;   and  hence 
it  is  fre(|Uently  called  the  New    W 


orl<l.  in  coiiliadiclion  to  tlie 


^^ 


M 


4 


:y 


H 


4 


TWO    OI.I)-l'ASI!I()NKIt    r.OYS.  '-J-"*-* 

Knstci-ii  cuiitiiicnt,  first  known,  and  hence  ealled  the  Old 
W'orhl. 

'Pho  descriptive  <j;eojira|iliy  was  nniijue.  In  a  chapter  m 
the  kikes  it  says: 

Lake  Krie  is  noted  for  liavin^'  its  ishmds  and  l»anks,  at 
the  west  end,  sf»  infesti'd  with  rattle-snakes  as  to  render  it 
dangerous  to  land  on  them.  Near  the  hanks  of  the  islands  it 
is  covered  with  the  large  pond  lily,  the  leaves  of  which  lie  oii 
the  surface  of  the  water  so  thick  as  to  cover  it  entirely  for 
many  acres  together  :  on  these  in  the  summer  seasons  lie 
myraids  of  water-snakes,  haskiiig  in  tlie  sun.  On  this  lake, 
the  AiU(>riean  Meet,  under  Coin,  I'erry.  Sept.  Kt.  l.Sl ;',.  gained 
over  the  British  fleet  of  larger  foi'ce.  a  sjilendid  and  important 

victory. 

i:ai!\    1^  AKi:s. 

'I'liere  are  numerous  proofs  that  eartlupiaki's  have  heeii 
violent  in  vai'ious  parts  i.f  .\mei'ica.  Nearly  fifty  have  Ijeen 
noticed  in  the  New  Knghmd  State's.  .<ince  the  settlement  of  the 
first  l^nglish  cohmy  at  i'lyinoudi.  in  Kl-JH  Of  these,  five  have 
heen  pai'tit'ularly  nieiuorahle.  vi/..  KioS.  \{\~)S.  M'AVA,  \7'1~, 
1  To,'),  as  being  muidi  heavier  than  the  rest.  They  have  all 
commenced  with  an  undulatory  motion,  in  a  direction  from 
north-W(^st  to  south-east,  the  central  course  of  which,  oi'  place 
of  greatest  violence.',  has  heen  in  a  line  coinciding  nearly  with 
hike  Ontario  and  the  mouth  <if  .Mei'rimack  I'iver.  e.xti'uding 
.<i)Uth\vai'd  t(i  the  Potomac  and  northward  lo  the  S|.  Lawrence. 
The  whoh'  country  within  these  limits  has  heen  repeatedly 
shaken,  must  violently  ahout  the  midille,  and  least  towards 
the  south-we.-t  and  north-easi  houndai'ies.  1  n  those  live,  lie-' 
t'ui-e  mentioned  a-  heing  pai'ticulaiiy  menmralile.  the  violence 
of  the -h'.cks  wa<  such  as  to  cause  the  hells  in  churches  to 
rinii  ;   nnin\'  chimnie-  w     "  thrown  down,  and  in  some  instan- 


200 


TWO    (HD-I-'ASniONKD    HOYS. 


ces  houses  ;  fui'iiiture  dropped  from  tiie  shelves  on  \vlnch  it 
stood  ;  the  earth  in  many  })laces  was  rent,  and  quantities  of 
sand  thrown  out,  of  a  liighly  sulphurous  smell.  Some  remark- 
ahle  alterations  were  ohserved  in  wells  and  springs  of  water 
about  the  time  of  these  eartlKpiakes.  In  some,  the  (iuality  of 
the  water  was  altered  ;  in  others,  the  quantity.  New  springs 
were  opened,  and  old  ones  dried  up. 

ITSHKKIKS. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  fisheries  of  the  United  States  is 
carried  on  hy  the  eitizens  of  Massachusetts.  The  people  of 
Nantucket.  New  Bedford  and  ('ai)e  Cod,  carry  on  the  whale 
fishi'ry.  These  fish,  however,  at  present,  a^  rare  aljout  the 
(-'a})e,  although  formerly  caught  there  in  great  numbers.  .\ 
species  of  the  whale  kind,  ealli'd  black  fish,  weighing  about  ."> 
tons,  and  atlording  oil,  is  very  abundant.  The  manner  ol 
catching  them  is  very  singular.  Tiiey  swim  in  shoals  of  sev- 
eral huixlreds,  and  the  inhabitants  ])Ut  oif  in  their  boats  and 
drive  them  ashore,  like  so  many  cattle,  on  tl.i-  flats,  where 
they  are  left  by  the  tide,  and  fail  an  ea.sy  prey. 

WASHI.\(iT(»N. 

The  city  of  \N'asliiiigton,  situate*!  on  the  .Maryland  side  of 
the  I'otowmack,  is  the  scat  of  g(tvernnient  of  the  ['nited 
States,  It  is  laid  out  nn  a  phin,  which,  if  completed,  will 
render  it  one  of  the  hamlsonicst  ami  most  commodious  cities 
in  the  world.  The  streets  noi'th  and  south  are  cros.'^e(l  by 
othei's  at  right  angles  :  the.^e  ai'"  transver.xcly  crosseil  by  \h 
other  >li'ects  named  after  the  did'cH  iil  stales.  The  hou.'^es  are 
.  niostl\  of  hi'iek.  The  capilol,  when  coniplelcd.  will  present  a 
front  of  :'>()'J  feel.  It  is  pleasantly  situate<l  on  an  eminence, 
commanding  a  view  of  c\-ery  part  of  the  city,  and  of  a  con- 
siilt  laiije    poiiien    of    the    coinitiy    around.      The    president's 


TWO    OLD-FASHIONKD    HOYS. 


r:6l 


house  is  170  by  85  feet,  two  stories  high,  of  free,  white  stone. 
It  stands  on  a  rising  ground,  possessing  a  water  prospeet, 
together  with  a  view  of  the  capitol,  and  of  the  most  material 
parts  of  the  city.     The  ])opuhition  in  1810  was  8,208. 

MICHKtAN    TKURITOHY. 

Detroit  is  the  ca{)ital.  The  old  town  was  wliolly  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1805.  The  new  town  is  well  laid  out  ;  the 
streets  cross  each  other  at  right  angles.  It  is  a  place  of  con- 
siderable trade,  which  consists  chieHy  in  a  barter  of  coarse 
European  goods  with  the  natives  for  furs.  The  town  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  strong  blockade,  through  which  tliere  are  four 
gates.  On  the  west  side  there  is  a  small  fort.  The  streets  are 
generally  crowded  with  Indians  in  the  day  time;  but  at 
night  they  are  all  shut  out  of  the  town,  except  such  as  get 
admittance  into  private  iiouses,  and  tlie  gates  are  closed. 


The  school  was  closed  with  writing,  spelling  and  the  an- 
nouncement that  some  of  scholars  were  far  enougli  advanced 
to  begin  tlie  '<tudy  of  grammar  as  soon  as  bool^s  could  be 
procured,  and  thus  on  tlie  first  day  did  the  Httlc  teacher  arouse 
an  unusual  interest  in  the  little  kingdom  over  which  she  was 
to  reign  supreme  for  four  months  at  $"2.00  per  week  ami 
"  ])oard  around." 

W'iieii  the  ( 'ollins  boys  returned  home  from  school  they 
found  some  neiglibors  present  and  considerable  excitement  was 
manifestecl.  There  were  two  events.  ()]]v  domestic  and  the 
pubbc,  either  siillicieni  III  tlirnw  a  family  or  a  nation  into  ex- 
I'itenicnt.  Til  tlie  buys  tiie  advent  of  a  stove  was  a  marvel, 
('onsidering  his  wife's  exposure  In  the  heat  of  a  tire-place  dur- 
ing the  summer.  .Mr.  Collins  had  purchased  the  first  stove 
ever  st'eii  in  the  community  and  a    ha[ipier  woman  than  their 


202 


I'wo  ()|,ii-iasiii()m:i)  j'.uVs. 


inotlicr  dill  not  live.  iiotwitlistaiuliiigslR' had  soiiio  iiiis^ivings 
dvci'  ln'C( lining'  I'aiuiliiir  witli  its  nu'cluinisin. 

'■  I  will  tiT  it  iii'st  on  soiiio  wheat  Hour  ])iscuits,  and  if  it 
iiakcs  we  will  have  sonic  tor  the  iircachcr  wlicn  ho  comos  the 
Sunday  alter  next,"  saiil  the  frood  woman  with  a  merited  touch 
of  |iri(ic. 

.loll  and  IJen  agreed  it  would  he  t'un  to  work  U])  wood  for 
ihe  little  thinu'.  and  then  uave  their  attention  to  their  father 
who  was  reading  from  the  iJcdford  Intclliiicnccr  the  news  of 
an  outlireak  at  Nia^ai'a.    'i'he  account  is  here  ^iven  verhatim  : 

We  hasten  to  lay  hefore  our  readi'rs,  in  an  extra,  the 
latest  intelliucnec,  from  the  conlendinii  armies  on  the  Niaj^ara 
frontier,  received  here  last  evening'  in  the  Cleveland  daily 
Herald  and  (Jazetteof  .lanuary  2d.  'i'he  accounts  are  tVom 
the  IJulfalo  papers,  and  will  he  read  with  much  interest. 

'IMic  jiafiots  were  still,  at  our  last  accounts,  December 
:'>(Mh,  stroniily  intrenched  (tn  Navy  island,  which  is  a  small 
Uritish  island,  two  .niles  ahove  the  Niagara  falls,  and  is  partly 
covi'red  tVoin  view  from  the  American  shore  hy  the  lower  end 
of  (Iraiid  Istiuid.  which  belongs  to  the  I'nited  .States. 

The  British  royalist''  hail  made  several  attem})ts  on  the 
island,  hut  were  as  oltcn  repulsed  hy  the  patriots.  And  re- 
ports at  IWillalo  well'  that  the  royal  foi'ces  and  Imlians  had 
landed  and  taken  po>-<"<sion  of  <ii'and  island,  which  news 
created  a  ureal  fei'iuenl  at  Hiillilo.  ihe  exiitenimt  there 
was  .ureal  on  the  2'.tth,  l.ut  on  tlie  :l(lth,  the  news  of  the 
capUu'c  and  iau'iiin^,  and  ^-endinu'  <>vri'  the  jireat  cataract  of 
the  .\merican  -teamiioal  ( 'arolini',  found  lyin<>at  the  American 
viilaue  of  Slo-sii',  op|Hisite  ('hip|i<'wa.  wiili  all  on  hoard  hut 
twelve,  may  lie  eX|iect(d  lo  have  hciulilencd  the  excitement 
to  its  highest  pitch. 


^> 


TWO  or.n-KAsrrinNKi)   hoys. 


This  is  our  latest  news,  and  its  cU'cct  at  lUiflalo  when 
('f)ni)nunicati'(l  tlicrc,  we  can  well   iina<iiiu'. 

In(loc<l  the  Herald  inloriiisus  that  the  exciteiueiit  was  in- 
tense in  i^ull'ulo  on  Saturday  and  a  hriuade  of  militia  was  or- 
dered out  to  rendezvous  in  that  city  and  part  of  the 'id.Sth  reg- 
iment was  ordered  on  duty  on  Satur<lay  evening. 

A  meeting-  was  held  in  Cleveland.  Jan.  1st,  at.  which  I'eso- 
lutions  were  passeil  expressing-  their  sympathy  with  the  Cana- 
dian ptitriots  ami  with  our  own  citizens  who  are  cxpo.sed  to 
tory  outra<;('  and  vi()lenee.  .1.  H.  St.  John  and  Samuel  Cook 
presided  at  the  meeting-,  and  a  connnittee  of  21  yx'ntlemen  was 
apj)ointed  to  receive  donations  for  the  benetit  of  the  ])atriots. 

(ieneral  Southerland,  from  the  patriot  camp  at  Navy 
Island,  was  present  and  addressed  the  meetiiiL!,' and  was  lou<lly 
cheered. 

Report  says  that  a  comp.my  of  si.\ty  volunteers  l(>ft 
Cleveland  yesterday  in  a  steamboat  for  Navv  Island. 

The  sheritV  immediately  dispatched  an  express,  wlio  was 
accompiinied  by  two  of  the  I'nitcd  States  marshals  recently 
ai)i)ointed,  to  ascertain  ii  a  landin<i  by  the  15ritish  ti'oops  had 
actually  taken  i)lace,  ]ireparatory  to  his  makiuLi  a  call  on  *he 
county  militia  to  enforce  their  exjiulsion.  These  pai'ticuhii's 
Were  explained  tit  the  multitude  asseniided  in  ihe  street  by 
\V.  ir.  Kajicrs.  j-'sii.,  district  attorney,  who  stated  in  his  I'c- 
marks.  Ihat  the  necessary  h'iial  measures  would  hi'  taki  n.  and 
on  llii  relurn  of  (he  express,  if  il  was  found  necess;iry  lo  claim 
the  aid  of  our  militia  to  enforce  ihem.  due  notice  would  he 
^iven. 

i''our  o'clock  1'.  M.:  The  expi'css  ha>  just  relumed  and 
reports  that  a  small  haml  of  l>ritish  hiiliaiis  had  landed  ou 
Crand  islaml.  and  a  lar^c  boat  load  of  thu  royali>t-  attemi)tod 


2G4 


TWO    (»L!)-1'ASJII()NKI)    BUYS. 


to  iviu'li  the  same  spot  this  morning,  hut  were  forced  to  return 
to  tlie  ( 'iuuida  shore  with  the  loss  oi'six  killed. 

We  give  the  above  statement  of  the  course  pursued  by 
our  citizens  as  a  precaution  to  the  people  abroad,  from  be- 
lieving the  many  and  erroneous  reports  which  reach  them, 
coming  as  they  do,  magnified  and  distorted  in  every  possible 
.shape. 

From  one  of  the  officers  of  the  patriot  army  who  arrived 
in  town  this  evening,  we  have  received  a  verbal  account  of  the 
attempt  last  night  by  the  royalists  to  make  the  descent  on 
Xavy  island.  Early  on  yesterday  morning  the  royalists  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  battery  with  six  endjrasures  on  the 
Canada  sliore  for  the  ostensible  pur{)ose  of  raking  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  island,  and  under  cover  of  their  guns 
iillow  inganother  party  to  make  a  descent  from  a  point  about 
half  a  mile  above.  As  sodii  as  their  0])erations  were  dis- 
covered, the  [)atriots  commenced  a  fire  from  ten  guns,  the 
shot  nearly  destroying  the  works  of  tlie  enemy  and  causing 
men  an<l  oiiicers  to  abandon  them.  Previous  to  this,  how 
ever,  a  continued  fire  had  been  ke})t  up  from  ('hip])ewa  to  the 
highest  point  above,  which  was  not  returned  by  the  islanders. 

Everything  remained  (juiet  imtil  late  in  the  afternoon,  no 
persons  to  be  seen  on  the  Canadian  side  but  a  few  sentinels, 
when  the  alarm  was  ^iven  that  a  number  of  boats  had  put 
oUl  from  ('hi{)pewa  ci'eek  to  make  an  attack.  The  artillery 
imimdiately  ofNi'ned  upon  them,  destroying  one  or  two  of  the 
l)arge<  and  fon-ing  them  to  drop  back  with  the  current.  A 
compuHiiiy  of  infantry  also  lircd  several  volleys  with  elfect,  the 
number  killed  not  ascertained, 

About  11  o'clock  at  night,  the  royalists  pushed  over  from 
the  point  al)0ve,  running  under  the  shore  of  CJrand  Island  in 
this  state,  but  put  back  after  they  were  convinced    by  the  sig- 


■: 


TWO    OM)-P.\SltI(tNKl)    liOVS. 


20.") 


■: 


liais  on  Gmiid  Lsland  and  a  few  shots,  tliat  they  wore  discov- 
ered. 

They  then  coininenced  again  to  buihl  their  lircastworks 
but  were  driven  ont.  This  niorniiig  at  (hiy  break  another  at- 
tempt met  the  like  result.  jMcNah  and  his  men  have  now  re- 
tired upon  (J]iii)pewa. 

From  the  Buifalo  Commercial,  Dec.  20,  2  o'clock  ]>.  m. 
Gov.  Head  arrivi'd  at  Chippewa  yesterday,  with  four  hundred 
volunteers  from  (Vjbourg,  broujiht  in  two  steamljoats  froiu 
Toronto. 

The  cannonading  heard  early  this  morning  destroyed  the 
royalists'  hydra-head  brest-works  again,  which  seem  to  s])ring 
up  every  night,  merely  to  be  cut  down  in  th  morning.  Be- 
tween GO  and  70  guns  were  lired  to  accom])lish  their  des- 
truction. 

A  boat  was  discovered  near  the  head  of  Grand  island 
early  this  morning,  wliich  was  lired  upon  and  several  sup- 
po."^ed  to  have  been  killed  or  wounded,  us  those  in  it  were 
observed  to  carry  some  of  their  numbers  on  shore  on  reaching 
the  Canadian  side.  It  probably  contained  a  reconnoitering 
party. 

The  redoubtable  Col.  Sutherland,  alias  Duke  of  Lancas- 
ter, has  been  sent  with  dispatches  to  Dr.  Duncomb  in  the 
western  jmrt  of  the  province. 

Our  expri'ss  met  loatls  of  individuals,  arnuHl  and  un- 
armed, together  with  footuicn  and  horsemen,  pei'haps  sixty  or 
seventy  \u  all,  bound  post  haste  for  the  sceiu'  of  action. 

N'olunteers  seem  to  be  i)ouring  in  from  all  (juarters. 
RochestiT  furnishes  a  full  ([uota. 

From  llic  l>utfalo  Commercial,  Dec.  o(t.  The  following 
was  issued  this  morning,  as  an  extra,  from  this  office  : 

Ca{>t.  Iveeler,  of  the  .schooner  Agnes   Barton,  and  F.  Em- 


2(ir) 


TWO  (»i.i)-i''Asni()NKr>  noYs. 


mons,  ol  tills  city,  have  ju.st  brought  m-ws  by  express  from 
Slosser,  of  ail  attack  made  this  nioniln^' uiioii  the  steamboat 
Caroline,  lying  at  that  iilace.  which  I'csulted  in  tluMlestruction 
of  the  boat,  and  the  death  of  twenty-two  of  her  crew,  only  12 
escaped. 

It  is  state(l  that  tlii'  attack  was  made  about  2  o'clock,  by 
five  boats  of  armed  loyalists,  containing  from  100  to  l."0  men 
who  guardi'd  the  gangways,  and  cried   "  no  (juarters  !  " 

Cai)t.  Appleby  of  the  Constitution,  who  went  (hnvn  as 
pilot  of  the  Caroline  yesterday,  narrowl}'  escaped  with  his  life. 
He  received  a  flesh  wound,  and  was  pursued  to  the  house  ad- 
joining.— A  Mr.  l)urfer,  lately  belonging  to  the  Stage  ollice  at 
the  Kagle,  in  this  city,  lies  on  the  dock  with  his  brains  l)lown 
out. 

The  Caroline  was  then  set  on  tire,  and  finally  drifted  f)Ut 
into  the  current,  and  went  over  the  falls. 

We  give  the  above,  just  as  itwiis  receive«l,  without  vouch- 
ing for  any  of  the  particulars.  It  may  be  prop(>r  to  add. 
that  Captain  Keelcr,  as  we  are  informed,  saw  the  result  of  th<> 
scene  above  descrilied. 

The  twelve  o'clock  express  contirms  the  news  of  this 
morning.  It  is  said  tliat  the  Caroline  was  filled  with  visitors 
and  not  soldiers.  The  word  with  the  loyalists  was,  "  No 
prisoners  I — no  ([uai'ters!"  Tho.^e  who  attemi)te(l  to  e.scajie 
were  kilh>d,  with  a  i'vw  e.\'ce]itioiis — the  boat  was  s(>t  on  fire, 
and  with  ihc  rciiiaiiKlei'  towed  into  the  current  on  the  ( 'anadian 
side,  which  soon  c.iiried  her  over  tlw  fall<.  The  loyal  ists  ga  ve 
three  ciiccrs  for  \'ictoria.  and  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  il 
is  supjKised  escapeil  tin  lire  opened  upon  Ibeni  from  the  island. 
Those  on  the  boat  slept  there,  because  the  [)ublic  houses  weri' 
full. 

Ca|)taiii  llaiding.   of  the    brig    Indiana.   escape(l    with    a 


TWO    (i|,I)-|'Aslll(iMIi    r.ovs. 


•iC.T 


srvi-rc  \V(  uiul  in  the  head  ;  (iiily  oiu'  imuii  was  t'DUiid  on  the 
Kliorc,  tiic  one  ali()\c  nicntidiicd,  the  rest  roitortcd  missing — 
lliei'o  is  little  dout)!  liiit  tlicv  went  over  the  falls  with  tlic  Imi'ii- 
ing  stciinilxiat. 

'Pliis  j)if('('  of  "  news  "  n>aclit'<I  tlic  settlement  foui'  montl 


IS 


iilter  It  was  |ii'inteil,  am!  it  diil  nol  reacli  tlie  -Intelligcneer 
olfiee  until  a  week  after  its  oceui'reiice.  Syin|)atliy  for  the 
r.inadian  patriots  was  expressed  in  the  neighhorhood  ami  a 
l\'W  secret  lodges  wore  organized  and  a  rende/evons  had  on 
the  St.  Lawrence.  Some  i\'W  enlisted  in  tiie  foolish  cause, 
iind  som(>  lost  their  lives  in  the  '•  !>attle  of  tiie  Windmill," 
othei's  were  executed  at  Kingston,  and  still  others  hanished  to 
\'an  1  )ieman's  land. 

lMie.<e  events  did  in  no  wise  intei'fere  with  the  school, 
which  had  now  really  entered  upon  a  new  ei'a  in  the  matter 
of  learning.  l\>v  a  wonder  the  blue  heech  gads  were  not  once 
u.sed,  and  the  ti'aching  of  manners  went  hand  in  hand  with 
grammar.  The  hoys  remove(l  their  hats  when  greeting  their 
elders,  und  the  girls  courtesied. 

Johy  set  .sad  on  an  unknown  .<ea  one  noon,  when,  with 
an  innate  love  of  mischief,  some  of  his  companions  had  re- 
moved and  euten  I'Very  scraj)  of  the  lunch  in  his  liasket,  and 
then  filled  it  with  grass. 

'■  It's  just  too  mean,  .hihy,  and  you  shall  have  half  of 
nune,"  .said  Nancy  ^Marceau.  Job  felt  meauei-  than  ever,  but 
he  somehow  just  couldn't  I'ehise.  That  night  he  cai'rie(l  hei' 
books,  and  as  her  home  was  reaidied  he  hande(l  them  back  to 
her  with  tlie  grannuar  open  at  ''  ( 'oiijugatiou  of  N'erbs."'  Jt  was 
wlliit  the  parents  pronounced  a  "  silly  mess."  I'unning  like  this  ; 


1  1 


ove 


W 


e  love, 


Thou  lovest,  You  love, 


Ifo  lovcp, 


They  lovo. 


208 


i 


TWO    ()|,|>-l'AsllIo\l:li    IliiYS. 


.lol)  K't  fi'O  (if  the  liddk  and  run  like  ii  dcci'  ns  if  to  ^^ct 
(iway  iVdiii  his  uuilty  sell'.  Niiiicy  saw  iiiiii  lly  around  tlic 
Ix'Htl,  and  llicn  licr  eyes  riveted  to  the  open  hook.  'I'he  sndt- 
icn  Joh  liad  sci'mwUmI  witli  tlie  point  o1' a  slate  pencil  al'ter  the 
"  simj)l('  declarative  sentence,  first  person,  siiitiular  mnnljcr — " 

'•  Vou.  " 

Nancy  hlushed  and  hei'  eyes  sna])|ied  at  an  unconscious 
con(|Uest  as  she  eH'aced  the  sly  confession,  and  went  to  Ix'r 
mother  to  ask  il'slu^  did  rij^ht  to  <livide  with  .lohy. 

"  Quite  ri,yht,  Nanny,  hut  you  had  hest  not  let  y(air  la- 
ther know  hfcausi*  he  is  havin^i' tr(tuhle  with  Mr.  Collins," 

But  Nancy  <li<l  fell  her  I'athei',  and  ix^A  a  scoldin<f  which 
(lid  not  hurt  much  as  sliu  was  e.\|>ectin,L!,'  a  storm. 

The  .s'hool  days  of  Uen  and  Joh  and  their  companions 
,spcd  hy  with  incidents  and  accidents,  pleasures,  (lisa])point- 
ments,  dreams  and  occasional  hard  knocks  as  they  neared  the 
activities  of  life.  They  lislied,  hunted  and  hoated  ;  named 
each  rock  and  heach  after  those  in  which  they  fancied  they 
saw  a  i'csend)lance  to  .some  descrihed  in  their seo<i"raphies  ;  had 
a  hundred  hairhreadth  escapes  frfim  death,  and  survivin,y' 
were  the  l)etter  fitted  for  the  hattles  of  life  Avhich  all  too  soon 
fell  upon  their  .shoulders  at  the  death  of  their  father.  Woik 
and  worry,  toil  and  slave,  was  flu'ir  lot  hefore  their  school 
days  should  have  heen  ended.  Thus  were  they  developed 
into  hardy  younjj,-  nu'n  with  a  generation,  who,  secondinj;'  the 
efforts  of  the  pioneers,  have  tran>fornii'il  a  wilderness  int(j  u 
land  smilinj.1-  with  peace  ami  plenty. 


I 


The  Last  Haul. 


"  r>niu'  Miircciiu,  I  know  you  (lidiTt  spcnk  to  iiic  sciicc  1 
\v;is  ;i  kill,  hut  here's  n  matter  what's  yot  to  l)e  talked  aliout. 
I  want  yer  Xauey  :  she  wants  inc.  I'm  fair,  so  I  jiromiseil 
her  I'd  sj.eak  ir  i  had  to  do  ye.  ole  man,  hut  I  'h.w  'twon't 
innkc  no  <ireat  '  <liH"  one  way  or  t'other.'' 

Did  evi'r  a  youn^-  man  make  so  lon.ij,-  and  pointed  a 
speeeh  to  a  |»ros|)eetive  i'ather-in-law'.''  .lohy  Collins  was  not 
hasht'ui.  Besides  he  had  taken  up  and  eherislu'd  for  many 
years  his  father's  oi'iido(.  jif;ainst  old  Mareeau,  whose  eliarac- 
teristie  re])ly  was  t'ljually  pointed  : 

"  No  ;  dod  uast  ye,  no  I  " 

The  interview  ended  aliruptly  as  it  he.nan.  A  little  later 
in  the  day  Wvn  < 'ollins,  .lohy's  hrother.  came  iaiterin.uiy  up 
the  lane  to  see  old  Uone  on  an  eutii'ely  diiVei'ent   mission. 

"(looil    morning-,    Mi'.    Mareeau,"   he  said.    "  wo\dd    you 

-dve    us   another   live    vears   on    the   mni'l-.i^iv '.'      We   ein  not 

hick    this 


iiiiv  nioi'e  than  IIk 


inler( 


iii(i;i\  .    11 


nt    il    We    liavi 


reason  oi 


ir  lishin.n'  will  uive  us  a  >tarl. 


lien  Collins,  your  father  injund  mi',  and 


1    will  not  at'- 


eouinioi 


h\W  one  of  vour  name,     (dt  ri,uht  otlon  these  pvnn 


ises 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


fe 


/ 


<- 

^A' 


/, 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


1^  [Ui    |2.5 

110    IIIII2.0 


12.2 


U    il.6 


—    6" 


VI 


/l 


7: 


aC^.4''v 


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^^^*. 


7 


>^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Cbrporalion 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


■^ 


I 


270  TIIK    I-AST    HAIL. 

nnd  ilou't  lot  1110  8«"  your  f:;oo  "(ill    you  oomo  with    pvinoipiil 


'( 


<!(l  ! 


jind  intorost.  iUid  lliafa  llio  hull  on't.     Now 

Insulte;!  and  dishciirtouod,  tho  ymuix  nuui  turned  homo- 
ward,  while  his  obdunito  oroditor  -hulllod  <lown  a  path  to  the 


water. 


m 


It  Avas  a  dull  Xovonibor  day  and  old  Bone,  in  ft  sullen 
...ood,  alone  walked  tho  shore  oi'a  l.i.^ht  in  one  of  the  (Iroat 
T.akes.  T1h>  water  was  lu/ily  lappinji  the  rooky  Io.Iltos  as  the 
dead  seas  solu'Hy  followed  each  other  shoreward  from  tho  lake 
as  if  wearird  with  the  tnssin-tiioy  had  roocivod  in  tiio  .uale  of 
tho  previous  ni-ht.  Tho  wholo  sky  was  heavy  with  dark 
(•h.nds  that  ninveo  not.  Sea  -nils  wore  hoM  in  their  pursuit 
of  dead  or  disahlod  lish,  and  I'.ono  nolioed  how  distinetly  the 
whito  win-s  Hashed  a^^ainst  tho  leaden  sky.  'I'ho  dull  waters 
n-avo  hnek  no  ivlleotion  save  hero  an.!  there  that  of  a  .lirty  le-- 
d-multon  sail  that  in  tho  ahsenoe  of  sunli-ht  aupearo.l  aimo^t 
white.  Tiie  atmosphere  was  ha/,y,  and  tho  distant  slioro 
hiomod  alM.Vf  the  horizon  as  if  risin^^  on  tiptoe  to  see  what  old 
I'xino  was  slormin.ij:  ahout  now. 

Seventv  vears.  man  and  hoy.  he  hn<l  heen  lishorman  and 
sailor,  and  as'he  passed  the  Collins  Im.vs  washin.u  aiul  mond- 
iu- their  nets  a  pan-- of  jealousy  shot  into  his  soul,  and  his 
h.'art  .urew  h.'avy  with  his  own  uniitnoss  for  the  aetivities  of 
life.  Hardship  and  exposure  ha<l  heen  his  lot,  an<l  now, 
drawn  with  rheumatio  i.ains.  his  life  of  idleness  was  worse 
than  a  jirison.  Ho  wandered  slowly  aloii.tr  the  hare  rooks 
whore  for  years  his  seines  had  ha,i:-od  loads  of  lish.  and  fell 
t..  ohservin.ii-  the  w.'atlior  after  the  manner  of  those  who  por- 
jH'tuato  the  hahit  when  retired  from  tho  water. 

"Tho  horrin.u  should  run  the  shores  this  day  if  over,  "  he 
sai.l  half  to  tho  kinjzlisher  that  rasped  a  darin.u'  salute  as  lie 
.shot  into  a  dead  pine.      "  -lust  tho   <lay,  just    tho   weather,  just 


I 


4 


1 


-"^ 


^'   ^ 


SPINNING   OI-T   THE   GREAT   SEINE. 


THE   LAST   HAUL. 


271 


everything  but  fish,"  he  continued,  searching  the  receding 
bottom  as  if  to  explore  the  depths  beyond.  Then  his  eyes 
lifted  to  the  gulls. 

"  Great  Ingens !  Them  birds  is  flockin'  just  like  there 
be  fish  under  'em.  If  my  eyes  wuz  ten  years  younger,  so  I 
could  bleeve  'em,  I'd  swar  ther  ware  a  school  'o  herrin'  takin' 
soundin's  out  thar." 

Watching  the  gulls  which  it  scorned  were  mobilizing 
under  a  gray-backed  leader,  the  old  fisherman  moved  farther 
down  the  point  with  more  animation.  The  noisy  squawking 
of  those  garbagcrs  of  tlie  sea  reached  his  ears  as  they  assem- 
bled from  north,  .south,  east  and  west,  some  seeming  to  drop 
from  the  very  zenith.  He  gazed  intently  at  the  unusual  dem- 
onstration. 

"  Fish,  or  wind?  "  he  queried,  as  a  little  ripple,  not  un- 
like a  cat's  paw,  broke  the  glassy  surface. 

"They  be  Hockin'  shoreward,  "  he  exclaimed,  as  the  birds 
chased  each  other  like  snowflakes,  the  mass  rolling  over  and 
over  itself,  but  unmistakably  heading  toward  shoal  water. 
From  exhaustion  the  old  fisherman's  gaze  dropped  downward. 
Then  lie  winked  hard  and  rubbed  his  eyes.  Only  a  few  feet 
from  the  shore  and  just  under  the  .surface  a  dark  streak  wrs 
advancing  toward  him,  and  growing  bigger  with  every  wave. 
It  was  wedge-shaped  and  squirming,  writhing  and  rolling,  the 
point  suddenly  turned  up  shore  sweeping  away  in  a  graceful 
curve  like  the  tail  of  a  comet. 

"  Fish  !     Fish,  sartin's  my   head's   lookin'   for'ard,"   ho 

fairly  shouted. 

Then  he  started  to  carry  the  news  to  his  neighbor  fisher- 
men, paused,  then  sat  down.  "  For  why,"  thought  he,  "  should 
I  tell  Ben  and  Job  Collins.  If  luck  fails  them  this  fall  their 
farm's  a  goner.     Twenty  years  ago  their  father,  old  Hank,  cut 


272 


TIIK    LAST    lIVrT.. 


my  seine  an'  I  never  had  the  fust  chanst  to  even  up  fair, 
Aint  tliey  beauties  ;  millions  on  'em,  an'  them  fools  don't 
know'sther's  a  tish  ani}>h  the  shore.  Show  I  lione,  you'rjf row- 
in'  meaner  and  fooler,  no  mistake,  but  thet  thar  Job's  payin' 
too  stiddy  attention  to  my  Nan,  and  no  Mareeau  shall  marry 
a  Collins  while  I  live,  lint  she's  dead  set  on  Joby,  .she  is,  and 
I'm  sorry  to  disappint  her.  Tell  tnem  ?  In  eourse  I  will," 
and  he  hurried  to  the  sons  of  the  man  against  whom  he  held 
a  grudge  although  the  grave  had  clo.'^ed  between  them.  Ho 
gave  orders  like  a  shii)'s  first  offieer  : 

"  Hoys,  ther  a  big  school  hit  agin  the  shore !  Out  and 
make  the  biggest  haul  ever  made.  Off  with  yer  boat  and  run 
the  old  'man-killer'  around  shiploads  on  'em." 

The  old  man  sprang  into  the  boat  and  seized  an  oar,  the 
Collins  b-'vs,  owners  of  the  biggest  seine  on  the  shore,  tVdlowing 
in  dumb  surprise,  while  those  who  tished  for  a  "  hand -.share,'' 
wild  with  visions  conjured  by  old  Bone's  excitement,  grasped 
the  oars  and  sent  the  heavy  boat  around  the  eour.xe  s|)inning 
out  the  great  seine  as  it  never  went  l)efore.  Soon  the  outer 
jackstaff  was  tossed  over,  a  heavy  roj)e  was  made  fast  to  it.and 
the  boat  landed  not  far  from  its  .^starting  point.  The  seine  lay 
out  a  full  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  a  semi-circle,  tlu*  buoys 
marking  the  position  where  it  lay  fishing  twenty  feet  top  and 
bottom.  The  ropes,  attached  to  either  end,  were  carried  to 
snatch  blocks  on  the  .shore.  With  the  aid  of  a  horse  at  one 
line  and  a  win<llass  at  the  other  the  hauling  of  the  great  bag 
shon'ward  began  with  a  lively  shout  from  the  strong  throats 
of  the  lusty  lisheinian  now  fairly  wild  with  excitement.  The 
old  man  who  Iiad  so  nnccreiiuinidusly  ;u.-<iiined  criminMiid  Icil 
and  clieercd  tiii'  men  in  tlie  hard,  wet  task  and  seemed  ani- 
mate<l  with  the  vigor  of  yf)uth  as  the  jack.'!  dragge(l  slowly 
home.     Zip  I    Splash  I     A  silver  stivak  shoots  over  the  cork- 


TltR   l.AST   ItAVf. 


273 


11)10  nnd  (Irop.s  outside  into  (loop  water  and  freedom.  The 
lislicrnion  Imvo  lost  a  fine  salmon.  The  jacks  aro  hove  homo  ; 
the  load-lino  liitolios  on  the  rough  bottom  ;  the  fish  break  tho 
surface  and  bag  the  net  outward  as  they  are  drawn  into  small- 
er compass.  The  men  tug  at  tho  lines,  the  corks  bob  under 
as  the  finny  prisoners  make  a  frantic  rush  for  deep  water  only 
to  bo  hurled  back  by  the  straini^ig  moshes.  Now  a  long, 
strong  pull  and  all  together  as  tho  jacks  aro  landed  high  and 
dry,  and  scoops  aro  brought  to  land  tho  captive  beauties  whose 
beauty  is  ontiroly  lost  upon  tlioir  captors.  Again  and  again 
is  tho  not  thrown  until  it  is  returned  empty.  Meantime  the 
dressers  have  come  from  up  and  down  the  shore,  and  each  fish 
is  dofdy  prepared  for  market  in  just  throe  moves.  Frolicsome 
lads  and  lassies  thoy  when  work  is  over.  At  last  the  final 
basket  of  tisli  has  boon  washed  and  salted.  Thou  the  old  fish- 
erman wlio  had  worked  with  untiring  energy  wearily  sat  down 
u})on  an  overturned  fish  box. 

"A  hundred  and  twenty  barrels,  "  ho  muttered,  "pood 
for  an  even  th(usand  dollars  if  a  cent.  Never  tho  likes  of  it 
on  this  shore,  no /or — an'  I  told  Old  Hank's  boys.  I  do'no, 
spose  I  may's  well  make  a  day  of  it.  .loby,  come  hero.  You 
can  have  Nan  an'  1  give  in.  Take  her  for  yourii  an  deal  fair 
by  her.  " 

He  was  pale  and  trembling.  "  Boys,  "  ho  said  slowly, 
"  its  my  last  haul,  the  biggest  ever  made  and  I  gin  it  to  yer 
free.  Lord — help — mo."  And  as  ho  fell  his  soul  wont  out 
on  that  unknown  deep  without  compass  or  rudder. 


THE   END. 


